Is Trap based on a true story? Details about Operation Flagship that inspired Shyamalan’s thriller are explored

Fall is the latest psychological film from filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan thrillerwhich was released in the US on August 2, 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Although Shyamalan is known for his mind-bending thrillersThis time he seems to be inspired by a true story.

Fall is inspired by a true story based on Operation Flagship executed by the US Marshal Service in 1985.

The film follows a firefighter, Cooper Abbott, who decides to take his teenage daughter to a concert after she gets good grades. However, he realizes that the concert is a ruse by the police to catch a serial killer, ‘The Butcher’, when they reach the venue.

In a turn of events, it is revealed that Cooper is the serial killer the police want to catch, and he must find a way to escape.

More about the real Operation Flagship that inspired it Fall in our story.

What is the source of inspiration for Operation Flagship? Fall film?

The US Marshals Service conducted a covert operation in 1985 called Operation Flagship.

As part of the operation, thousands of invitations were sent to 3,000 known fugitives with outstanding arrest warrants, informing them that they had won free tickets to the Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders) game against the Cincinnati Bengals, courtesy of a fictional flagship sports network.

This was done because these tickets were very popular at the time. Tobias Roche, a former marshal involved in the program, informed:

“In 1985 there was a waiting list for season tickets for more than 25 years”

The fugitives were asked to gather at the Washington Convention Center for drinks and a raffle for a chance to win these tickets. The Center was equipped with nearly 166 undercover officers, disguised as ushers, cheerleaders and waiters, who received six weeks of training and three dress rehearsals.

Louie McKinney, Chief of Operations, disguised himself as a master of ceremonies and gave a presentation on the fake events of the day. After he finally announced a big surprise, a force from the Special Operations Group stormed the room to make arrests.

Approximately 144 arrests were made as part of this Operation Flagship programme.

Is Fall directly based on Operation Flagship?

Although Shyamalan admits to being inspired by the operation’s unconventional approach to capturing fugitives and using the plot as a ruse in the film, the rest of the details are fictional..

While the original program was intended to apprehend fugitives, in Shyamaln’s film the police intended this ruse to capture a serial killer called ‘The Butcher’, a fictional character.

Officer Roche also discussed Fall and how realistically Operation Flagship was depicted in an interview with British GQ. While the obvious difference between replacing the football match and the concert is clear, he praised the director for showing the risk in his work.

“Safety was everything… You don’t want anyone to get hurt – not the police, not the people you arrest. Our biggest concern was that everyone would go home safely that evening.”

“We were concerned that some of them might recognize each other because they might have been in prison together or involved in criminal activities together,”

While the story of Fall appears to be inspired by the Operation, but the film has changed some details for cinematic purposes.

Fall starring Josh Hartnett as Cooper Abbott, Ariel Donoghue as Riley Abbott, Saleka Night Shyamalan as Lady Raven, Alison Pill as Rachel Abbott and Hayley Mills as Dr. Josephine Grant.

Follow Soap Central for the latest scoop on your favorite TV shows and movies.