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In recent years,M. Night Shyamalanhas traded big twists for big concepts. Or, he’s found a healthier balance between the two. The director famous for his reveals in movies such asThe Sixth SenseandSignshas recently focused his energy on high-concept movies likeOld,Knock at the Cabin, and his most recent,Trap. As a director, Shyamalan is about as unpredictable as his third acts and as uneven. Still, his ability to craft worlds for his characters to inhabit has remained impressive throughout his career. The ambition tomakeSplita secretUnbreakableprequeland then follow that up with a ‘superhero’ crossover movie is something so bold only Shyamalan would have the guts to attempt it.
InTrap, Shyamalan further expanded his cinematic lore with a sneakier Easter egg, a reference to his daughter Ishana’s movieThe Watchers, which was released earlier this year. For some directors, it could just be a fun little nod to a family member’s work, but for M. Night Shyamalan, it’s further proof of his sheer influence over modern cinema, even if his track record hasn’t always been good. Shyamalan’s Easter egg inTrapfurther expands his sphere of influence, not just to his own family but to what his movies have meant and how we interpret twists in movies.
With his daughter following in her father’s footsteps, the Easter egg you probably missed inTrapis the rare example of positive nepotismin an industry full of lesser-talented children.The Watcherswas met with poor receptionupon its release, but Shyamalan’s recognition shows how he has changed the game of modern cinematic thrills. Why is this Easter egg inTrapso interesting? How does it use the Easter egg novelty to its fullest? How has Shyamalan built his cinematic world? Here’s what you need to know.
A man and his teenage daughter realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event while watching a concert.
This Trap Easter Egg Demonstrates M. Night Shyamalan’s Skill for Intertextual Cinema
M. Night Shyamalan’s directing techniquehas established a cinematic language purely his own, one that never deviates even when it maybe should. Shyamalan crafts his movies around a concept, wrapping an unconventional mystery into more recognizable themes of human morality and age. TheTrapEaster egg might not utilize Shyamalan’s techniques directly, but it does evolve his interest in self-awareness and manipulating audience expectations.The Easter egg, which can be seen in the trailer itself as a group of SWAT vehicles pass by a billboard forThe Watchers, pays tribute to his daughter’s work in a way only Shyamalan could, with a layer of intertextuality that might risk continuity, but who cares?
His movies have ranged from self-serious to campy, and withTrap, Shyamalan embraced the eye-rolling plot conveniences, making the film much more charming. Shyamalan’s flops likeThe Last AirbenderorAfter Earthwere dragged down by their seriousness. The Easter egg, if you were quick enough to notice it, is anotherShyamalan eye-rollerbut in a fun and self-aware way. It feels like the director acknowledging his own story-telling devices, challenging the audience to step out of his world for a brief moment. Shyamalan’s twists rely on an audience being immersed in the world of the movie, so in a strange Shyamalan way, putting this Easter egg in a relatively twistless (compared to his other films) movie likeTrapdoes feel like an odd twist in itself. That leap in logic sounding feasible is proof of his reputation as a master of twists.
M. Night Shyamalan Embraces Silliness in Trap, and It’s All the Better for It
It isn’t easy to strike a balance between high concept and high pay-off. The bigger Shyamalan goes, the harder it will be to retain realism in a series of movies that have embraced fantasy and plot armor to ludicrous degrees. Josh Hartnett may be charming, but the things he gets away with inTrapare so dumb that they’re brilliant. Shyamalan embracing popcorn cinema instead of self-serious stuff better suits his skills, so much so that it doesn’t matter thattheTrapEaster egg serves little purpose apart from shouting out his daughter andThe Watchers.
The Twists in M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap Aren’t Really Twists
M. Night Shyamalan’s most recent feature did not deliver on his usual signature twist ending.
Trapis a silly movie. Knowing that is half the fun; the other half comes from how Shyamalan knows it, too. The idea of the Easter egg is also fundamentally quite silly, and that’s what makes them so fun to spot and discuss. Some of the most iconic Easter eggs, like theBatman vs. Supermanlogo inI Am Legend,are so fourth-wall-breaking that they would take you out of the movie, which makes them so interesting. Shyamalan’sThe WatchersEaster egg thrives on the chaotic energy of the director and shows that he’s having fun just as much as the audience.
The Watchers Easter Egg Is a Positive Example of Hollywood Nepotism
For those who have sat throughAfter Earth, you’ll know Shyamalan is no stranger to eye-rolling nepotism. That movie’s failings have been learned from. Yes,Trapis sort of a covert starring vehicle for his daughter, but within the nonsensical pulpiness of that world, it’s easy to look beyond. That’s what makes Shyamalan a more skilled filmmaker than he gets credit for and what makes this Easter egg so successful. It fits within the context of Shyamalan’s heightened tone. The nepotism that makes sense, like this small example, isn’t the huge shouting match nepotism debates might turn into.
Caddo Lake’s Classic Shyamalan Twist Ending, Explained
There are a few twists and turns along the way but the final reveal brings it all together.
Movies are pretty self-serious these days, and while there is an audience for them, we don’t have enough directors at theheights of M. Night Shyamalan’s reputationmaking movies to be silly and entertaining. This isn’t a topic to launch a debate about nepotism in its entirety, but it does show that the versatility of the Easter egg can be stretched to fit even our silliest directors. Maybe that’s where they best belong, with M. Night Shyamalan leaving anUnbreakablereference in his upcoming movie about whatever his next game of Mad Libs suggests.Trapis now streaming onMax.
