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If there’s one thing I love more than a good horror comedy, it’s one made in direct opposition to Walt Disney’s wishes thanks Steamboat Willie to become public domain in 2024. Writer Simon Phillips and director Jaime Bailey, who seized the opportunity to make a slasher film based on Mickey Mouse, announced their intention to produce Mousetrap, and released the trailer on January 1, 2024, the same day that intellectual property would be out of copyright, as if they’d been waiting for this moment all their lives. The end result is a teenage slasher film in which the antagonist bears a striking resemblance Steamboat Willie iterations of Mickey Mouse, as later depictions of the character are still protected by copyright law.
How to get Legal Mumbo Jumbo out of the way
Before Mousetrap gets into the bloody action, a massive disclaimer slowly scrolls across the screen informing viewers that “This production is not sponsored, endorsed or associated with DisneyThe Walt Disney Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and/or third-party licensors.” The disclaimer goes on for comical length, letting everyone know that they made several phone calls to confirm that Disney wanted absolutely nothing to do with this film nothing to do, “legally or emotionally”, but only before conceding that the disclaimer itself is “general”. space scroll … not to be confused with Lucas films and its subsidiaries or third party licensors.”
Sure, this whole introduction Mousetrap is a joke in itself, but obviously there was some fear of legal ramifications going into the project, so why not be totally horny when you get the chance?
Mousetrap frame
Events shown in Mousetrap are told in retrospect from the prison cell occupied by Rebecca (Mackenzie Mills), the sole survivor of the amusement center massacre. At first, tight-lipped Rebecca is reluctant to tell detectives Cole (Damir Kovic) and Marsh (Nick Biskupek) what happened before she was locked up, fearing for her life. To prove her innocence, Rebecca has to walk the detectives through her night, because at this point she is the main person of interest because she is the only person who got out of the entertainment center alive.
However, it’s worth noting that Rebecca’s story is dubious at best, as her recollections of the events include exchanges that took place when she was allegedly not present.
Story framing aside, Mousetrap he jumps back and forth from Rebecca’s interrogation to Funhaven, the entertainment center where Alex (Sophie McIntosh) and Jayna (Madeline Kelman) work. As their shifts near the end, Alex and Jayna are approached by their boss, Tim (Simon Phillips), who asks them to stay a few hours later due to a last-minute booking. Tim disappears into the back office, pours himself a drink and watches Steamboat Willie on the projector until he is interrupted by his collectible Mickey mask, which taunts him in a demonic voice, urging him to take it.
Tim Wanders laughs and that’s the last he’s seen of him… or so everyone must think.
Start the Bloodbath
Unbeknownst to Alex at the time, the party to arrive consists of her friends, which I won’t name because you know you’re going to Mousetrap that no one gets out of this alive, so why bother? Meanwhile, what appears to be Tim is still wearing the Mickey Mask, chains and padlocks on all the doors, ensuring that no one can escape Funhaven.
Now if you have seen even one slasheryou know well where Mousetrap heading at this point. Possessing inexplicable powers of teleportation, Killer Mickey takes down everyone in his path one by one, letting out a shrill laugh with each stab and slash.
From this point onwards Mousetrap shamelessly stylishly executes every classic slasher trope you can think of.
The couple who wandered into the jungle gym to make love? Don’t get too attached. Saying “I’ll be right back” is an instant death sentence. and of course Of course everyone has a cell phone in their bag so everyone can live in the moment instead of advancing doom. Except in this case, failing to scroll the dooms at a birthday party pretty much seals everyone’s fate.
Magical and manic
Mousetrap doesn’t set out to reinvent the slasher genre, but rather celebrates familiar beats we’ve all seen before in the most ridiculous way possible. While I initially wished I hadn’t seen Tim masked at the beginning of the movie, meaning he’s the only person who could be the killer, going into this movie without the slightest hint of mystery makes it even more enjoyable.
Mousetrap it’s not 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 the viewer, while everyone else is totally oblivious.
You can stream Mousetrap free on Tubi at the time of writing, and I highly recommend that you invite your friends over to witness the spectacle that is Mickey Mouse on a killing spree.
