An aggressively Canadian schlockfest destined to be remembered as “so bad it’s bad” – if it’s remembered at all.

After Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, other public domain slasher flicks featuring beloved childhood characters released into the public domain seemed inevitable. And on January 1st, 2024, the first trailer for The Mouse Trap dropped, coinciding with Steamboat Willie, the OG Mickey Mouse cartoon, becoming public domain. The film follows a supernatural killer in a vintage Mickey Mouse mask (Simon Phillips) as he slashes his way through a 21st birthday party held after-hours at a children’s fun complex.

The narrative is framed by two detectives (Nick Biskupek and Damir Kovic) interrogating a Gothic mop of hair* named Rebecca (Mackenzie Mills), the sole (sane) survivor of a massacre of her friends. After the groundwork for the plot is laid, the action switches back and forth between the events of the night and the detectives grilling Rebecca on how she could possibly know all the details she does. There’s really nothing of note to speak about, other than the mask the killer wears was definitely too small to fit over a human head when we first see it, the killer has the power to teleport but is weak to strobe lights, and not a goddamn thing that happens makes any kind of sense. We don’t get any explanation of what really happened, either, just a sequel-bait post-credits scene. The killer gets a longsword from seemingly nowhere at one point? I think I have a headache.

Based on the reviews I’ve seen of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, The Mouse Trap is of the exact same stock: a rushed attempt to capitalize on childhood nostalgia meant to garner “omg this ruined my childhood” reactions. The director even expressed surprise that there weren’t more projects intending to do the same thing. But, if I can be blunt here, why would there be? Movies like these only exist for shock value, and there’s very limited return on investment when making a movie for shock value alone. Also, I’m not really a follower of internet trends, but the prevalence of “ruined childhood” reactions seems to have dwindled since the 2010’s. People are tired of nostalgiabait and edgy reimaginings, even if Hollywood doesn’t seem to be.

Take away the imagery of a bloodthirsty Mickey Mouse and The Mouse Trap has nothing else to offer. The acting is mediocre. The majority of the kills are lazily shot to reduce the need for special effects. There’s no explanation or real story, and no attempt at one. All of the characters feel like poorly disguised ripoffs of better horror characters (I found the Randy Meeks expy especially egregious). I think the filmmakers might’ve thought they were contributing to LGBTQ2S representation, but even that feels more like a checking of boxes than a genuine attempt at representation.

What I’ll say to be diplomatic is that everyone involved in The Mouse Trap put a lot of sauce into it. But sauce alone is not a meal. Better to leave this one on the shelf.

*I know this sounds derisive, but the camera really focuses on the back of her head for a long time when she’s first introduced. It’s… a Choice.