M. Night Shyamalan is no stranger to high-concept thrillers. His latest film, , takes a -inspired approach at an unlikely location: a packed concert by pop star Lady Raven (played by the director’s daughter, Saleka).
Cooper (Josh Hartnett) is a seemingly normal suburban dad who takes his daughter to see her favorite artist. While striking up a conversation with a venue vendor, he finds out that the show is actually a : the FBI has a plan to catch a serial killer called “The Butcher” after learning he would be in attendance. But, , Cooper The Butcher and has to find a way to escape.
While the plot may sound outlandish, it’s partially based on a true story. Shyamalan shared that took inspiration from the real-life . “I heard about it when I was a kid and I thought it was totally absurdist, that this actually happened,” the filmmaker told .
“It was something that was in my head a lot when it happened.” “[The authorities] used the absurdity against them because they lowered their guard, which I thought was quite brilliant,” he added to the outlet. “So it just stuck with me, and I guess when Saleka and I were thinking about a movie at a concert, I wondered, why would this person not be able to get out, and how can I keep them there?” The December 1985 sting operation, organized by the United States Marshals and Washington, D.
C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, tricked more than 100 wanted fugitives into going to the Washington Convention Center, under th.