WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Trap.
Jody's mom is strangely aggressive towards Cooper in M. Night Shyamalan's Trap. Josh Hartnett stars as a serial killer disguised as a supportive father in the new thriller movie. Hartnett has made a major comeback over the last few years after he appeared in Black Mirror season 6 and Christopher Nolan's Best Picture winner Oppenheimer. Trap also features the feature film debut of Shyamalan's daughter Saleka as pop singer Lady Raven, who plays a major role in the cast of Trap.
Most of the original music in Trap was made specifically by Saleka under her fictional pop star name Lady Raven. By the end of Trap, Cooper cleverly finds his way out of many tight situations after Lady Raven exposes the truth about his serial killer identity to his family. He encounters a woman early on in the film known as Jody's mom, played by Marnie McPhail, who is the mother of one of Riley's so-called friends, Jody.
Trap is now streaming exclusively on Max.
Jody's Mom Was Basically A Red Herring In Trap
Jody's mom's "dark side" never made a narrative impact
Since Jody's mom really didn't have much of a narrative purpose in Trap, she ended up being a major red herring in the Shyamalan film. Not only was she a red herring to the audience, but she was also a major distraction for Cooper while at the concert, as he was trying to think on his feet and plan his escape. Jody's mom is adamant about her daughter, Jody, hanging out with Riley after the two have had a big disagreement. She tirelessly and aggressively tries to set up a time so the two girls can reconnect.
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Jody's mom has nothing to do with Cooper's serial killer plotline and has no idea that she's talking to the infamous Butcher when she demands Cooper's attention. Cooper tried to walk away but Jody's mom wouldn't allow it, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into their conversation with an ironic threat, "Don't mess with me, Cooper. I'm not someone to be provoked. I have a dark side. You don't want to see it." This "dark side" implies that Jody's mom may have played a bigger role later in the film, which ultimately was not the case.
Why Jody & Her Mom Yell At Each Other During Riley's "Dreamer Girl" Appearance
Jody was jealous of Riley but she and her mom have some interpersonal issues
Jody (Harley Ruzinsky) is portrayed as an entitled and spoiled teen who has a dysfunctional relationship with her mom. Jody is obviously upset that Riley was chosen as Lady Raven's "Dreamer Girl" and freaks out at her mom in disbelief and jealousy as Riley appears on stage. Based on Jody's mom's volatile and frightening reaction, it's also clear that both Jody and her mom are problematic and likely have a dysfunctional relationship. At the very least, Jody's mom demonstrates how Cooper is seen by members of Riley's community as a seemingly normal dad in Trap.
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
English (US) ·