Set in a small fishing town “The Ghost Trap” revolves around a young lobsterman who finds himself in conflict after his girlfriend suffers a severe head injury. Zak Steiner, known for his work in HBO’s “Euphoria” and Jack Harlow starrer “White Men Can’t Jump,” stars as the film’s protagonist, Jamie Eugley. While Greer Grammer stars as the film’s second lead, Sarah Catherine Hook, Steven Ogg, Taylor Takahashi, Sarah Clarke, and Xander Berkeley play the key supporting roles. This tragic drama film is directed by James Khanlarian based on a screenplay written by him and K Stephens.
Spoilers Ahead
The Ghost Trap (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
Directed by James Khanlarian, “The Ghost Trap” is an American drama film that follows Jamie Eugley, a lobsterman who finds himself in a tough spot after his girlfriend suffers from an accidental injury.
What happens in ‘The Ghost Trap’?
Set in a small island town in Maine, “The Ghost Trap” mainly follows Jamie (Zak Steiner), a young man who makes a living catching lobsters from the nearby ocean. He lives with his girlfriend, Anja (Greer Grammer) and they work together on the boat. They have been so close that their neighbors wonder how the two have not been married yet. One day, while heading to work, he impromptu proposes to her as a joke. She accepts his proposal. Afterward, she gets tired of working on the boat. While he speaks with someone from the shore, she accidentally falls into the water.
Jamie rescues Anja from the water but she suffers a severe head injury that creates neurological complications for her. So, she needs assistance in learning the most basic things like reading a clock or driving a car. Even three years later, Jamie struggles to make peace with their new normal as a couple since he has to take care of her like his child. On top of that, he also needs to work unaided to provide for both and help his family with their needs from time to time. Although he puts up with the sudden shift in their relationship, he finds it harder to go on like that.
The Outsiders’ Trouble
Neal Ames (Tim Peper), a rich outsider, lands in Jamie’s town, hoping to catch some fish. Jamie gets annoyed and corrects him about a legal mistake he was about to make. At night, he joins his close friend, Thongchai (Taylor Takahashi) for drinks at a bar. There, they meet two women, Audrey and Dana. Thongchai hopes they turn it into a double date, but Jamie is loyal to Anja and does not want to betray her trust. So, he doesn’t show any interest in Thongchai’s request. On his way out, Jamie bumps into Happy (Sarah Catherine Hook) and strikes up a conversation with her. They play pool together and bond well in no time.
Later on, during a family dinner, Jamie confronts his father James Sr. (Steven Ogg) for the fight he got into with the Fogerty siblings, Kenny & Ev. James Sr. thinks they should fight back and should not stay silent. He also believes that, lately, Jamie hasn’t been enthusiastic about his work. Jamie has a hard time catching lobsters as he did before, owing to some recent restrictions and his bottled frustration. As if that’s not enough, Neal acquires a fishing license in their town, adding to his woes. Still, he does not lose faith in his and Anja’s relationship.
Anja’s Recovery & The Family Rivalries
The doctors tell Jamie to help Anja return to her and adjust to an adult life. He teaches her how to drive and gets her a job at a local store. The townspeople are kind enough to take it at her pace. Despite his faith in her progress, Jamie cannot help but think of the time they used to spend together. He gets nostalgic for the times they could have spent together if not for the accident. So, he starts getting distant from the family. His mother Donna (Sarah Clarke) notices that. However, he doesn’t reveal that he meets Happy in his free time to take his mind off his worries.
Happy is a rather carefree traveler, who happens to be in their town. While she becomes friends with Jamie, she realizes that he still lives with Anja, which complicates their relationship. Jamie cannot find the warmth or comfort he craves. So, he recalls the loving company of his grandfather and feels sorry for himself. Happy wants him not to wallow in his misery and let himself enjoy life once in a while. Just when he tries to let loose a little, he finds their family’s fishing traps cut. Nearby, he finds a written note claiming the Fogerty boys have done it.
The Ghost Trap (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
After the issue with their fishing traps, the Eugleys decide to have a meeting with the Fogertys. Jamie wants to handle this issue level-headedly whereas James Sr. doesn’t. Eventually, James Sr. decides to take an impulsive step to seek revenge. Along the way, Jamie senses some trouble and returns to the shore, leaving the others to get arrested. It leads to more trouble between the families and Jamie still hopes to resolve the matter without letting them escalate further. Soon, he remembers a detail Neal earlier shared about his buoy.
Jamie connects the dots and realizes that Neal orchestrated a conflict between his family and the Fogerys for personal benefit. Recently, Neal has been trying to acquire all the fishing businesses in their area, making the locals struggle to survive. Subsequently, Jamie confronts Neal and ensures he doesn’t repeat his mistake. Soon, he meets Dale Fogerty (Billy Wirth) to clear the air. While that issue is resolved, he still needs to figure out what to do with Anja. Just when he spends time with Happy, Anja gets burdened with taking care of the store.
What does Jamie & Anja’s future hold for them?
Still not fully recovered, Anja struggles to keep up with the customer demands and fumbles quite often. She tries to get in touch with Jamie but doesn’t receive any response. So, she contacts James and Donna. Neither of them responds to her kindly. As a result, she gets intoxicated and jumps into the water. Luckily, Jamie reaches there just in time to save her. However, the doctors reveal that the new accident has made things worse for her. Jamie breaks down and sobs uncontrollably. Still, he returns to his work as usual, unsure what the future holds for him and Anja. Judging by his thoughts, he would stay with her out of love for the bond they once shared.
The Ghost Trap (2024) Movie Review:
As a fishing town thriller, “The Ghost Trap” gets the trade-related details right. It understands the daily struggles of the fishermen and the growing concern over their livelihood in the wake of newer challenges. The script also introduces a rich outsider trying to monopolize their business. It rings true to the real-life struggles with many similar businesses, being engulfed by the bigger players. So, it’s a well-intentioned film that roots for the underdog. However, it falters when it comes to individual narratives and the central narrative itself.
The protagonist Jamie Eugley is an archetypical troubled young man, living with guilt and familial responsibilities. He refuses to seek joy, reminisces how things could have been, and wallows in his misery. His overall arc fits in the mold of a righteous hero, which feels woefully one-note. Zak Steiner’s performance doesn’t help elevate it either. His rugged portrayal of loss and ennui feels like an odd cross between Matthew McConaughey’s performances from “Mud” and ‘”True Detective” but not nearly as detailed or internalized. It dulls the film’s emotional impact since it largely depends on how he projects Jamie’s turmoil.
Greer Grammer also feels cartoonish in her portrayal of Anja. Her unfortunate lack of nuance makes Anja feel more like a sitcom character than a woman burdened with irrevocable fate by a mere accident. This is particularly heartbreaking when the likes of Steven Ogg, Sarah Clarke, and Sarah Catherine Hook fit right in the film’s setting and make their characters come alive even in their brief parts. So, in the end, the film becomes well-intentioned but insufficiently developed with lackluster central performances.
