M. Night Shyamalan is known best for leaving his audiences in disbelief with his shocking and thrilling movies. His latest, Trap, starring former Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett as a serial killer is just as diabolical. But it is also complex, leaving us terrified as well as empathizing with the killer.
However, in one deleted scene we see a side of Josh Hartnett’s Cooper that is just as disturbing as it was unforgettable. Being the master of psychological tension he is, Shyamalan made the right choice of leaving it on the cutting room floor and even fans agree with him.
Deleted Trap Scene that Made Josh Hartnett’s Cooper Even More Terrifying
Josh Hartnett recently starred in M. Night Shyamalan‘s psychological thriller, Trap. Starring as a serial killer who goes by the name of The Butcher, at first Hartnett looks like just another doting dad taking his daughter to a concert. However, we soon see the real face of Hartnett’s killer as the actor effortlessly switches into his character’s morbid persona.
Although the film is not as great of a success among fans and critics, it nonetheless has Shyamalan’s usual psychological tension and terror play. Filled with ample spine-chilling moments, one deleted scene from the film recently resurfaced on the internet showing how ruthless Cooper can be.
In the said scene, Cooper is spotted by Dr. Josephine Grant, an FBI profiler outside the concert venue. As the FBI chases after him, Cooper randomly catches a bystander, putting a knife to her neck. While he soon leaves her unharmed and runs into a store, he ends up killing a store employee with his brute force and hanging him.
Showcasing how merciless Hartnett’s character can be, Shyamalan ultimately did the right thing by not putting the scene in the film for it did not make sense for The Butcher to show himself in a public sphere.
Fans Agree with M. Night Shyamalan’s Decision to Delete This Trap Scene
Trap might not have been as big of a success as many envisioned, but it nonetheless is a good watch for fans of the genre. Almost shot entirely from Josh Hartnett’s serial killer’s perspective, fans even find themselves rooting for the merciless killer. However, the one deleted scene is so brutal and gory that it would have made the film an even more interesting watch.
Yet, had M. Night Shyamalan featured the scene, it would have taken away The Butcher’s mysteriousness by revealing him to the public. Despite the scene’s execution and worthiness, even fans agree that Shyamalan made the right choice by not including it in the film.
While most fans understood why the scene needed to be cut, others felt more scenes like this would have made the film a better watch. Although the deleted scene showcases Josh Hartnett’s terrifying performance as the menacing serial killer, its exclusion ultimately helps save the film’s atmospheric tension and leaves audiences to imagine the full extent of the horror that Cooper can unleash.
Trap is available to be rented on Amazon Prime Video.
