By Robert Scucci | Published
If there’s one thing I love more than a good horror comedy, it’s one made in direct defiance of Walt Disney’s wishes thanks to Steamboat Willie becoming a public domain property in 2024. Jumping at the opportunity to make a slasher based on Mickey Mouse, writer Simon Phillips and director Jaime Bailey announced plans to produce The mouse trap, and released a trailer on January 1, 2024, the same day copyright laws would no longer apply to intellectual property, as if they had been waiting for this moment their whole lives. The end result is a teen slasher film in which the antagonist bears a striking resemblance to the character. Steamboat Willie iteration of Mickey Mouse, as later depictions of the character are still protected by copyright law.
Eliminate legal mumbo-jumbo
Before The mouse trap enters its bloody action, a huge disclaimer slowly scrolls across the screen, informing the audience that “This production is not sponsored, endorsed or affiliated with Disney, The Walt Disney Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and /or third party licensors. .” The disclaimer goes on for a comical amount of time, letting everyone know that they’ve made several phone calls to confirm that Disney wants absolutely nothing to do with this movie, “legally or emotionally,” but only before acknowledging that the disclaimer itself is a “generic”. Space Scroll… not to be confused with Lucas Films and its subsidiaries or third party licensors.
Of course, this whole introduction to The mouse trap is a joke in itself, but obviously there was some fear of legal repercussions going into the project, so why not be totally ironic when the opportunity presents itself?
The mousetrap frame
The events described in The mouse trap are told retrospectively from a prison cell occupied by Rebecca (Mackenzie Mills), the sole survivor of the amusement center massacre. At first speechless, Rebecca is hesitant to tell Detectives Cole (Damir Kovic) and Marsh (Nick Biskupek) about what happened before she was incarcerated because she fears for her life. In order to prove her innocence, Rebecca must accompany the detectives throughout her night because at this point, she is the main person of interest, as she is the only person to have made it out of the amusement center alive.
It should be noted, however, that Rebecca’s story is dubious at best, as her memories of events include exchanges that occurred while she was allegedly not present.
Story setting aside, The mouse trap cuts back and forth between Rebecca’s interrogation and Funhaven, the entertainment center where Alex (Sophie McIntosh) and Jayna (Madeline Kelman) work. Near the end of their shift, Alex and Jayna are approached by their boss, Tim (Simon Phillips), who asks them to stay a few hours late due to a last-minute reservation. Disappearing into the back office, Tim pours himself a drink and watches Steamboat Willie on his projector until he is distracted by his collectible Mickey mask, which taunts him in a demonic voice, urging him to wear it.
Tim walks away laughing, and that’s the last time he sees him…or at least that’s what everyone is supposed to think.
Begin the bloodbath
Unbeknownst to Alex at the time, the party that was to arrive consisted of his friends who I won’t list because you know they are going to The mouse trap that no one gets out alive, so why get attached? Meanwhile, what appears to be Tim, still wearing Mickey’s mask, chains and padlocks all the doors, ensuring that no one will be able to escape Funhaven.
Now, if you’ve seen even one slasher, you pretty much know where The mouse trap is heading at this point. One by one, the murderous Mickey, who inexplicably possesses teleportation powers, slaughters everyone in his path while letting out high-pitched laughter with each stab and slash.
From this moment on, The mouse trap unapologetically executes every classic slasher trope you can think of in style.
That couple who goes to the jungle gym to have sex? Don’t get too attached. Saying the phrase “I’ll be right back” immediately becomes a death sentence. And of course, Of course everyone’s cell phone is placed in a bag so everyone can live in the moment instead of doom scrolling. Except in this case, not being able to parade disaster at a birthday party pretty much seals everyone’s fate.
Magical and manic
The mouse trap doesn’t aim to reinvent the slasher genre, but rather celebrates the familiar beats we’ve all seen before in the most ridiculous way possible. Although I initially wished I hadn’t seen Tim go into mask at the beginning of the film, implying that he is the only person who could possibly be the killer, going into this film without even the slightest hint of mystery makes it somehow so much nicer.
The mouse trap isn’t meant to make you think, and there’s no big reveal.
In fact, five minutes into the movie you know exactly what’s going to happen (by design), allowing you to mindlessly enjoy the violence knowing what’s going to happen as a viewer while all the people completely ignore it.
You can broadcast The mouse trap for free on Tubi as of this writing, and I highly suggest you invite your friends over to witness the spectacle of Mickey Mouse going on a murderous rampage.
