DIRECTOR M. Night Shyamalan praises Josh Hartnett’s remarkable performance in the upcoming thriller “Trap,” co-created with his daughter Saleka.

“Trap,” the latest thriller from the brilliant mind of director M. Night Shyamalan, tells the riveting story of a father and daughter who attend a pop concert only to realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event. How did this thriller about a serial killer trapped in a concert venue come to life?

“‘Trap’ was created by me and my daughter Saleka from our conversations together about music and movies,” Shyamalan proudly shares. Saleka, who plays Lady Raven in the film, also wrote the fictional artist’s songs featured in the concert. This unique father-daughter collaboration brings a fresh and personal touch to the film’s narrative.

Saleka, a professional singer-songwriter, reflects on her father’s passion for filmmaking.

“What’s interesting to me is that he tells such dark stories because I think he is such a positive person,” she says.

“You see that positivity in the context of these dark situations, and you know that he thinks the universe is good. It’s a key throughline in a lot of his movies. And I think this is another example of that. It’s beautiful to watch. That makes me feel safe on set, and it makes a lot of people feel happy and joyous to be here. It’s like we’re living the dream. He feels that and so we remember that every day.”

Josh Hartnett, who plays Cooper, holds great respect for Shyamalan, especially because of the director’s meticulous approach.

“I was given a big ream of the storyboards, which is basically the film,” shares Hartnett. “You could flip through it and you could see every shot… for someone to come that prepared and then show up and actually live within it… I think he does that because he feels what the actors are going through.

“You can see him behind the camera, really experiencing it, wanting to be there 100%, to see how it will be experienced by the audience. Later, he can then put it together in a way that’s going to be most effective for the audience. It just shows what a master he is of this craft. And I think because of all that, he really enjoys the process.”

Shyamalan is equally impressed with Hartnett’s dedication. For the role of Cooper, Shyamalan wanted an actor who is a big risk-taker.

“When I met Josh, he looked me in the eye, and I just knew he was ready to do anything – there was an energy, an electricity coming off of him,” says the director. “I think for audiences, one of the great reasons to come to this movie is seeing the amazing performance that Josh gives.”

“Trap,” distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company, opens in cinemas July 31. Be sure to catch this captivating thriller and witness Josh Hartnett’s stellar performance. #TrapMovie

(Photo and Video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

(ROHN ROMULO)

MANILA, July 22, 2024 – Nature’s fury rocked the global box office as “Twisters” stormed into North American and Philippine theaters at No.1, nabbing third-biggest opening of 2024 in the US with a sensational $80.5-million.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/ORAgIWnn5QQ

“Twisters” is the current-day chapter to the 1996 hit disaster blockbuster “Twisters.” Directed by Oscar nominee Lee Isaac Chung, the film stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos as storm chasers who come together to try to predict, and possibly tame, one of nature’s most destructive forces.

The film is a bona fide hit with both critics and moviegoers as it received a high score of 92% Audience Score and a certified 78% Fresh Rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

Empire writes about the action and thrill that “Twisters” brings to audiences. “Simply put, ‘Twisters’ wears its Big Summer Movie heart on its sleeve. The score is rousing and righteous, the star power at times overwhelming to look at directly (to clarify, Powell walking through a downpour in a white T-shirt serves absolutely no narrative purpose). Powell being reunited with Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski — here on story-writing duty — feels like no coincidence; Cruise may be absent, but ‘Twisters’ effectively throws every other adrenaline-pumping cinematic tool in its bolted-down wheelhouse at you. At one point, our heroes are quite literally ushering crowds into a movie theatre for shelter. And you’d do well to join them.”

Screenrant praises the magnetic chemistry between Powell and Edgar-Jones as Kate and Tyler. “Edgar-Jones and Powell’s chemistry is a highlight of ‘Twisters,’ and their dynamic had me questioning my belief that not every action movie needs a romance between its leads.”

Entertainment Weekly also writes about the performance of the “Twisters” cast. “There’s a ton of technobabble that you have to take on faith, but Jones and Powell do more than sell it; they make it compelling.”

The New York Times notes the timeliness of a film focused on the devastating effects of worsening extreme weather conditions. “If we can’t fix climate change, can we fight it? And if so, who benefits? Who will take advantage of our weather in the future, and who will suffer from it? The apocalyptic element of ‘Twisters’ hits a little closer to home. The idea of a tornado as a monster is a metaphor. But the tornado itself, and the havoc it wreaks, is very, very literal.”

Catch the storm of a lifetime as “Twisters” is now showing in Philippine cinemas.

Credit: “Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.”

(ROHN ROMULO)

AFTER contacting the Queen of Pop for permission to use her 1989 single ‘Like a Prayer’ in Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds revealed she “gave a great note” for the sequence that quickly ended up in the final cut.

“Also, let’s preface it with the fact that — Madonna doesn’t just license the song, and particularly that song has not been licensed,” he said on SiriusXM.

“So it was a big deal to ask for it and certainly a bigger deal to use it… We went over and met with her and showed her how it was being used and where and why.”

Director Shawn Levy admitted “it did feel like we were meeting royalty,” as Reynolds said the meeting “was one of the great thrills of my life.”

Reynolds added, “And she gave a great note. My God, she watched it and, I’m not kidding, she was like, ‘You need to do this, this, and this in this moment.’ And damn it, if she wasn’t like spot-on and right.”

Madonna previously directed the films Filth and Wisdom (2008) and W.E.(2011), the latter winning her track ‘Masterpiece’ a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

“We literally went into a new recording session within 48 hours to do this one note,” said Levy. “She had only one note, and it was a great note, and it made the sequence better.”

Levy explained that Madonna’s son “is a big Deadpool fan, and she mentioned that that definitely was an advantage” in securing her song for the movie, which premieres July 24 in PH theaters, and on July 26 in the US.

The third title in the Deadpool franchise, Deadpool & Wolverine reunites Reynolds and Hugh Jackman‘s eponymous Marvel heroes after 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The team-up was teased in a meta post-credits scene from Deadpool 2 (2018). (Source: deadline.com)

(ROHN ROMULO)