WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Trap.
Jody’s mother is strangely aggressive towards Cooper in M. Night Shyamalan’s film Trap. Josh Hartnett stars as a serial killer disguised as a supportive father in the new thriller film. Hartnett has made a big comeback in recent years after appearing in Black Mirror Season 6 and winner of Best Christopher Nolan Film Oppenheimer. Trap also features the film debut of Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka as pop singer Lady Raven, who plays an important role in the cast of Trap.
Most of the original music in Trap it was made specifically by Saleka under her fictional pop star name Lady Raven. At the end of TrapCooper skillfully finds a way out of many difficult situations after Lady Raven exposes the truth about her serial killer identity to her family. He meets a woman at the beginning of the film known as Jody’s mother, played by Marnie McPhailwho is the mother of one of Riley’s supposed friends, Jody.
Jody’s mother was basically a red herring in the trap
Jody’s mother’s “dark side” never had a narrative impact
Since Jody’s mother didn’t really have a narrative purpose in Trapshe ended up being a huge red herring in Shyamalan’s film. She was not only a red herring for the audience, but also a huge distraction for Cooper during the show as he tried to think for himself and plan his escape. Jody’s mother is adamant about her daughter, Jody, dating Riley after the two had a huge falling out. She tirelessly and aggressively tries to set up a time so the two girls can reconnect.
Jody’s mother has nothing to do with Cooper’s serial killer plot and has no idea she’s talking to the infamous Butcher when she demands Cooper’s attention. Cooper tried to walk away, but Jody’s mother wouldn’t let him, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into the 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 this.” This “dark side” implies that Jody’s mother may have played a larger role later in the film, which ultimately was not the case.
Why Jody and her mom yell at each other during Riley’s “Dreamer Girl” appearance
Jody was jealous of Riley, but she and her mother have some interpersonal problems
Jody (Harley Ruzinsky) is portrayed as a spoiled and entitled teenager who has a dysfunctional relationship with his mother. Jody is obviously upset that Riley was cast as Lady Raven’s “Dreamer Girl” and freaks out to her mother with disbelief and jealousy when Riley appears on stage. Based on Jody’s mother’s volatile and frightening reaction, it also becomes clear that both Jody and her mother are troubled and likely have a dysfunctional relationship. At the very least, Jody’s mother demonstrates how Cooper is viewed by members of the Riley community as a seemingly normal father. Trap.