Trap (2024)

It was goofy fun but closer to a The Visit or Old than Sixth Sense or Split in terms of quality. One of those ones that feels like it should be an "M Night Shyamalan presents" rather than one directed by him. I really liked Josh Hartnett, his kid and Allison Pill, and Senya Shyamalan was alright (good singer-songwriter, okay actor). The concept of the structure being successive cat and mouse games getting tighter and tighter was cool, but it did lead to a lot of stuff feeling contrived or disjointed. If you go in expecting silly genre thrills you'll probably enjoy it.

Rating: throwaway fun

Dream Scenario (2023)

SPOILERS BELOW

A solid execution, but the allegory for internet fame was so close that they may as well have not bothered with the dream stuff and just had it be about a milkshake ducked guy. It felt like a semi-Kaufman. And when they do finally commit to the concept for a few minutes at the end, it conflicts with the rest of the movie which had up till then kept it ambiguous at best as to whether anything metaphysical had happened (and in fact seemed to be leaning towards it being coincidence until the internet article at which point it became mass suggestion).

Rating: intriguing but timid