Trap’s Post-Credits Scene Wasn’t In The Script Originally

Director M. Night Shyamalan explains how he included the post-credit scene in his latest psychological thriller Trap. Starring Josh Harntett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donoghue, Alison Pill, and Hayley Mills, Trap follows Harntett’s character, Cooper Adams, a man who leads a double life as a family man and as a serial killer known as The Butcher. In the usual Shyamalan style, the movie contains several plot twists, but the director also tacked on a post-credits scene.

Now, according to Gizmodo, Shyamalan, discussing his recently released thriller, revealed that the surprise post-credit scene was not in the original plans for the movie. He added that it was an impromptu decision to add the scene, and everything eventually worked out. Read his full quote below:

“That wasn’t in the script. I went, ‘Wow, you know what? I’m just gonna shoot it.’ And I was like, ‘Start doing it, let’s get it ready. I’ll shoot it whenever I have an hour or two and let’s go do it.’”

What Was The Purpose Of Trap’s Post Credit Scene?

It’s The Perfect Tag For Shyamanlan’s Idiosyncratic Thriller

More often than not, post-credit scenes in movies are a way of setting up or piquing the interest of viewers for a follow-up movie. This, however, isn’t the case with Trap. While the movie does contain a post-credit scene, it’s used to bring back a character for one more comedic beat at the end of the film. The post-credits scene picks up right after Trap’s twisty ending.

The scene features Jamie, a concert worker, who is seen watching the news about the FBI apprehending the notorious serial killer The Butcher. Earlier in the movie, Jamie had a conversation with Cooper where he revealed that the concert was a trap set by the FBI to capture The Butcher. However, he had no idea Cooper was The Butcher at the time. The post credit scene ended with Jamie learning the face and real name of The Butcher and discovering it was the man he had a conversation with earlier in the movie.

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Post-credits scenes are quite rare in Shyamalan’s filmography. Across his extended career, only two of his previous movies have featured post-credit scenes prior toTrap. 2016’s Split featured a cameo from Bruce Willis which set up a connection to both Unbreakable and Glass, while 2023’s Knock At The Cabin featured an audible tease. Shyamalan’s revelation that the post credit scene was more of an afterthought further proves that it was included simply for comedic purposes and to pay off a small storyline rather than an attempt to set up a sequel.

Source: Gizmodo

Trap

3.0

Trap is a film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan under his Blinding Edge Pictures label. The film is part of a deal struck with Warner Bros for him to direct and produce several films under their banner. 

Release Date

August 2, 2024

Studio(s)

Blinding Edge Pictures , New Line Cinema

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures , New Line Cinema

Cast

Josh Hartnett , Hayley Mills , Marnie McPhail , Vanessa Smythe , Saleka Shyamalan , Malik Jubal , Jonathan Langdon , Peter D’Souza , Ty Pravong , Kaitlyn Dallan

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