Movie: Trigger Warning
Production Company: Lady Spitfire, Thunder Road Pictures
Director: Kelsey Mann
Producers: Erica Lee, Esther Hornstein, Basil Iwanyk
Main Cast: Jessica Alba, Mark Webber, Anthony Michael Hall, Tone Bell
Release Date: 21st June 2024
Running Time: 106 minutes
Certificate: 15
Introduction: Some well handled action and a feisty turnout from Jessica Alba just saves this bland Netflix thriller that is all style and no substance.
Synopsis: Jessica Alba is ‘Parker’, a skilled and badass army commando who returns home to take ownership of her recently deceased father’s bar. Upon her arrival, she soon discovers that her hometown has been taken over by a ruthless and dangerous gang.
Analysis: ‘Trigger Warning’ begins with a somber and faced paced action set piece that highlights what will be in store for you over the next one hundred minutes; lots of ‘stuff’ happening but hardly any material or any space for you to take a breath. Bizarrely enough, the very first thought that popped into my mind with this straight to streaming punch ’em up is that it reminded me (almost instantly) exactly of those made up films that would exist within the world of ‘Entourage’ – the TV show following the fictitious movie star ‘Vincent Chase’ (which Alba briefly starred in). Even I was unsure what to make of this, except maybe only for the fact that everything felt too on the nose or forced. If this is the conclusion you arrive at as soon as proceedings begin, you are in trouble.
The film’s entire backbone and structure just doesn’t feel strong or gripping enough to carry it all the way (not helped by the fact that the performances feel very phoned in), especially since we have seen this formula before: the soldier returning back to their hometown to discover things have gone wrong. The most notable sprinkle of already existing inspiration stems from Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Walking Tall’ in which he too was a soldier who must rid his home of crime and corruption. Dan Steven’s brilliant ‘The Guest’ could potentially be tossed in there too for good measure but, if you are already aware of that and it’s darker concept, it would make sense if you think that that is stretching the mark.
Despite plenty of set backs, some silver linings are in store for you. Alba kicks plenty of ass in what what is arguably her best action role to date with some very impressive (far more so than I had anticipated) fight sequences that she throws herself into. After all, she has already proven herself as a formidable enough action heroine over the years. With what starting out as a rough introduction, I eased into proceedings as well as I could have. The only thing keeping the film afloat are moments of quite explosive fisty cuffs that are met with enthusiastic and splattery violence and flinch inducing physicality that at least gives you a bang for your buck. With what the film can’t deliver in sufficient enough plot and characterization, it does at least deliver in entertaining enough action in abundance that does just enough to see you through to the end.
On Netflix now.
Overall Rating: 6/10 – Reasonable
Target Audience: 15+
Content Warning: suicide references, language, threat, drug misuse, violence
Recommendation: Yes
