M. Night Shyamalan’s 2024 psychological thriller, Trap, is now streaming on Netflix, which means audiences may want to watch these other Netflix entries soon after for the same edge-of-your-seat experience. Trap originally premiered in early August 2024 to positive and mixed reviews. The movie stars Josh Hartnett as Cooper, a loving father who brings his daughter to a pop concert. While there, he discovers that the event is a trap for a serial killer who is on the run. Soon enough, audiences realize that the killer is Cooper himself, and he’s running out of time to escape.

Trap earned a less-than-stellar Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, who gave the film a 57%. Reviewers liked Shyamalan’s concept, but were left wanting more from the dialogue, the climax, and the story itself. Meanwhile, audiences were much more satisfied, with a 65%, praising the film’s entertainment value, even despite its cheesier moments. Overall, Trap is a movie that wants audiences to feel stressed throughout, and if you are someone who enjoys that high-octane feeling, the following five movies are perfect to watch after Trap.

5

The Guilty (2021)

A 911 Operator Races Against The Clock

One exciting element of Trap is the fact that it takes place over the course of a single day, where every pᴀssing hour only increases in tension and danger. Those who want another movie that follows this format should check out The Guilty on Netflix. This movie centers on a police detective who is demoted to be a 911 operator, yet must dust off his old skills after getting a particularly horrifying distress call. The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, Ethan Hawke, and Paul Dano.

In many ways, The Guilty and Trap are like two sides of the same coin. Where Trap follows a secret killer trying not to get caught, The Guilty is about a somewhat secret detective who wants to catch a bad guy. Both movies are fast-paced and only get more extreme the longer they go on. Plus, with every scene, audiences must try to put all the pieces together in order to see the larger puzzle at play – which may be far more revealing than anyone could have expected.

4

Don’t Move (2024)

A Woman Is Chased By A Killer

Another psychological thriller with an unexpected twist like Trap is Don’t Move. Released just a few months after Trap, this movie follows a young woman who is targeted by a killer. He injects her with a paralyzing agent that will prevent her from moving and allow him to carry out her murder more easily. Yet, not willing to give up on survival, the woman attempts to outrun her attacker before the drug can set in. Kelsey Abille and Finn Wittrock star.

Don’t Move’s plot is fairly simple, but its twist makes it doubly entertaining. Just like in Trap, there is a sense that the protagonist has to race against time to get what they want. Of course, unlike Cooper, audiences will want Don’t Move’s main character to survive. On top of that, Don’t Move is similar to Trap because it attempts to go about the crime thriller genre in a totally new and unexpected way.

3

The Menu (2022)

A Couple Go To A ᴅᴇᴀᴅly Restaurant

Trap is not afraid to be a bit campy and strange throughout, and another psychological thriller on Netflix that ramps up the humor is The Menu. It revolves around a couple who attend a dinner at a world-famous restaurant, set on an isolated island. Expecting a night of wealth and good cuisine, the pair are shocked when they discover that they, and their peers, are all destined to be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by the end of the evening. The Menu features Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and Ralph Fiennes.

To be fair, The Menu goes way further than Trap does in terms of absurdity. However, this is what makes the movie so refreshing and gripping to watch. Just like Trap, audiences have no idea what is going to come next, and at a certain point, have to expect the worst. Additionally, some characters in The Menu are just as shockingly psychopathic as Cooper is, which only raises the stakes even higher. Overall, The Menu is witty, ridiculous, and an interesting look at privilege.

2

The Clovehitch Killer (2018)

A Teen Suspects His Father Of Horrifying Crimes

On a deeper level, Trap considers the idea that someone you love may end up being different from who they say they are. Another Netflix movie that explores this idea is 2018’s The Clovehitch Killer. In this film, a teenage boy discovers a hidden stash of terrifying pH๏τos among his father’s things. Slowly, he begins to realize that his dad may be behind a series of brutal killings, and worse, he may not let his son get away with this revelation.

The Clovehitch Killer is a compelling film that verges more on horror than thriller. In a similar sense as Trap, The Clovehitch Killer hinges on a central question: what is the protagonist going to do? Ultimately, this keeps viewers gripped from start to finish as the film intensifies the dread and the consequences. Arguably, The Clovehitch Killer doesn’t get enough attention among Netflix’s horror entries, so now is the perfect time to finally pick it up.

1

Watchers (2024)

A Woman Is Held Captive In The Woods

Last but not least, there is Watchers. Directed by Shyamalan’s daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, this movie follows a young woman who finds herself stranded in an isolated forest among strangers. Over time, she learns that she and her peers are being watched by nocturnal creatures, and that escape is nearly impossible. From there, secrets begin to come to light.

Watchers is a perfect movie to watch after Trap because Ishana Night Shyamalan perfectly embodies the style of her father. Even though Watchers’ premise is totally different from that of Trap, both movies succeed at building the same tense atmosphere. These movies have twists and turns galore, and are eager to shock their viewers. Thus, those who loved Trap may find exactly what they’re looking for in Watchers.