The Mouse Trap is a 2024 Canadian comedy horror film directed by Jamie Bailey and written by Simon Phillips. It is a horror reimagining of Walt Disney's 1928 animated short film Steamboat Willie, the first appearance of Mickey Mouse. While The Walt Disney Company retains exclusive rights to the depictions of the character from their own franchise, Mickey's Steamboat Willie version went into the public domain on January 1, 2024, the same day the film was announced.
| The Mouse Trap | |
|---|---|
 Poster with original title | |
| Directed by | Jamie Bailey |
| Screenplay by | Simon Phillips |
| Based on | Steamboat Willie by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Jamie Bailey |
| Edited by | Jamie Bailey |
| Music by | Darren Morze |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Gravitas Ventures |
Release date |
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| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
It stars Sophie McIntosh, Callum Sywyk, Allegra Nocita, Ben Harris, Mireille Gagné, Mackenzie Mills, James Laurin, Kayleigh Styles, Jesse Masmith, Madeline Kelman, Damir Kovic, Nick Biskupek, with Phillips as the titular character. The plot follows a group of friends trapped inside in an amusement arcade after it closes as they are terrorized by a masked killer in a Mickey Mouse costume. It was released on VOD platforms on August 6, 2024.
Premise
editWhen a group of friends sneak into an amusement arcade after closing, they end up being trapped with a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse, who decides to play a game of his own which they must survive.
Cast
edit- Simon Phillips as Mickey Mouse / Tim Collins
- Sophie McIntosh as Alex Fen
- Madeline Kelman as Jayna
- Ben Harris as Ryan
- Callum Sywyk as Marcus
- Mireille Gagné as Gemma
- James Laurin as Paul
- Kayleigh Styles as Jackie
- Mackenzie Mills as Rebecca
- Jesse Masmith as Danny
- Allegra Nocita as Marie
- Damir Kovic as Detective Cole
- Nick Biskupek as Detective Marsh
- Aleeah Ziyad Wallace Jannel
Production
edit.jpg)
On January 1, 2024, the first animated short film starring Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, entered into public domain.[1][2] The day the copyright lapsed, the film—then titled Mickey's Mouse Trap—was revealed to the public as the film's first trailer was released online along with several other works based on the short, such as Infestation: Origins, a Mickey-themed independent horror game.[3]
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, director Jamie Bailey stated: "We just wanted to have fun with it all. I mean it’s Steamboat Willie‘s Mickey Mouse murdering people. It's ridiculous. We ran with it and had fun doing it and I think it shows.[4] Bailey also expressed surprise that there were not more similar projects and that they were among the first to create such a film, as the crew "thought we'd be lost in the shuffle, to be completely honest". The film will avoid referring to the titular villain as "Mickey Mouse" while ensuring that "it's very clear who it's supposed to be".[5]
Principal photography took place in Funhaven, an amusement centre in Ottawa, Canada, over the course of 8 days in Summer 2023.[6]
Release
editThe Mouse Trap was originally scheduled to release in March 2024[7] before being postponed for unknown reasons. It was later rescheduled to be released in North America by Gravitas Ventures via video on demand on August 6, 2024, with a Blu-ray release following on August 13.[8]
See also
edit- Works based on a copyright-free Mickey Mouse
- Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a similar horror film whose original character entered into the public domain
References
edit- ^ "Mickey Mouse horror film unveiled as copyright ends". January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Tapp, Tom (January 2, 2024). "Mickey Mouse Horror Movie Trailer Drops: Film Uses 'Steamboat Willie' Version Of Character That's Now In Public Domain". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Squires, John (January 2, 2024). "'Mickey's Mouse Trap' Trailer – Mickey Mouse Horror Movie Slashes Through the Magic Kingdom This Year". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 2, 2024). "Trailer for Mickey Mouse Slasher Film Drops on Same Day 'Steamboat Willie' Character Enters Public Domain". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Mickey Mouse Horror Movie Makers Are as Cynical as You'd Expect". Gizmodo. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian director of Mickey Mouse horror film: 'We kind of shook the world'". Terrace Standard. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Mickey Mouse horror movie trailer drops after character enters public domain". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (July 29, 2024). "The Mouse Trap Trailer: Mickey Mouse Is a Serial Killer in an Inevitable Public Domain Horror Film". IndieWire. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
