Over the last century, Mickey Mouse has had almost every occupation you can think of, from a steamboat sailor to a sorcerer’s apprentice. One thing he’s never been is a stone-cold killer. But in the new film The Mouse Trap, that’s all he is. It’s not because The Walt Disney Company has run out of ideas (at least not in this department), but because of a lapse in copyright. 

On January 1st of this year, the first iteration of Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, entered the public domain. Whenever a work becomes part of the public domain, anyone can use it without permission from the original creator or its estate. And writer, producer and star Simon Phillips wasted no time in creating The Mouse Trap, as it is proudly billed as the first film to feature the character in a role that isn’t connected to The Walt Disney Company. Opening with a familiar-looking and comedic title crawl (identified as a “generic space scroll” for legal reasons), it’s made even clearer that this film is the furthest thing from a Disney production. While it seems like the producers are fishing for Disney’s approval, the subtext tells you that they don’t care. And from then on, the tone is tastefully set for one of the most enjoyable B-movies of the year.

Directed by Jamie Bailey, the film follows a young woman by the name of Alex who works at an indoor amusement park and arcade. One evening, she is told that she must host a late night event for a mysterious group. Unbeknownst to her, this mysterious group is actually her group of friends. The event is actually a pre-birthday bash for her. Just as the festivities begin, however, the group finds itself trapped inside the venue with a killer wearing a Steamboat Willie mask (Phillips). 

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As reminiscent as the plot is to every other teen slasher ever made, there is a lot of fun to be had with some of the comically creative kills. It’s not just some of the situations the characters are in when they are picked off, but the manner in which the killer strikes. For example, there’s an entire sequence where the killer takes on a group of four hockey “bros”. In the real world, they would easily dominate him, but in this world, he bests them with the agility of the Karate Kid, and with moves reminiscent of any ’90s Steven Seagal movie. Without giving away too much, one of the most memorable kills involves a VR headset. It’s virtually hilarious for several reasons. 

Although the film does not take itself seriously, it does leave a little to be desired when it comes to the actual motivation behind the killer and the killings. In other words, there’s a lot of ambiguity surrounding the person behind the mask. That’s not to say that we don’t know who the person is, but rather that we never fully know what is possessing them to do it. 

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In terms of actual cons, the film’s format might be its only major issue. The story is essentially a series of flashbacks revealed from the perspective of a character being questioned by the police. But, even as the detectives doing the interrogation point out, the character they are speaking to is absent from several key moments in the story. This causes some obvious confusion about what really happens at the arcade and who the real killer might be. While it’s a thread clearly meant to be explored in future films, it does invite the audience to come up with its own theories. Still, moviegoers might prefer more immediate answers. 

Even with its issues, The Mouse Trap is still a fun trip. Like its primary setting, it’s clearly made to amuse. Its killer gimmick aside, the film proves that you don’t have to be a major company or franchise to capture an audience’s attention, because entertainment is the only public domain that matters.

The Mouse Trap is available to rent and purchase on VOD now!