Trigger Warning Review: A Competent But Forgettable Throwback

Jessica Alba stars as Parker in the new Netflix action flick Trigger Warning. Parker is a tough Special Forces commando who finds herself returning home after a tragedy. We’re introduced to her taking out terrorists with ease during an opening mission in Syria. Skilled with guns and especially knives, she’s as tough as they come.

News of her father’s death in a mining accident brings Parker back to her hometown of Creation, New Mexico. As former boyfriend and current sheriff Jesse tells her, it seems to have been either an accident or possibly suicide. But Parker’s not so sure. Those who knew her father have their doubts too.

As Parker begins digging deeper, she soon suspects foul play. Several unwanted locals also take an intense interest in her return. It seems her father may have known something he shouldn’t have. When stolen military weapons and a criminal operation are uncovered connected to the town’s politics, Parker will stop at nothing to get answers.

That sets the stage for Alba to once again take center stage in an action flick. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen her kicking butt on screen. Trigger Warning gives her the chance to showcase her impressive physical skills, especially with knives. The story may not break much new ground, but it provides plenty of excitement as Alba revisits the genre that first made her a star.

Parker’s Homecoming Investigation

Special Forces soldier Parker receives devastating news: her father has died in an accident back home. As the only family she had left, this cuts deep. Parker wastes no time returning to Creation, New Mexico, to pay respects. But surprises await in her small hometown.

First is Sheriff Jesse, Parker’s ex. He insists the death was simply a mining mishap. Yet Parker knew her father well—the ex-Marine wasn’t careless. And the more she probes, the more questions arise. What really happened in that cave?

Suspicions grow as Parker encounters some unsavory local faces. There’s Elvis, Jesse’s hot-headed brother, always causing trouble. With a rap sheet as long as his mullet, he’s never far from the next crime. Anthony Michael Hall plays Senator Swann, the town’s most powerful figure and the head of a political dynasty. Both men seem eager to see Parker leave quickly.

While searching for answers, Parker finds allies in Spider and Mikey. Spider assists remotely with his hacking skills, supplying intel from afar. Mikey, a kind soul despite running with the wrong crowds, knew Parker’s father like family. He’s eager to help, however he can.

It doesn’t take long before a sinister web emerges. Stolen military gear is flooding the black market, with the mines used to stash weapons. But who’s behind it all? As Parker wades deeper, she realizes corrupt forces run all the way to the statehouse. Powerful people would kill to keep their misdeeds buried with her father.

Now it’s up to Parker to get justice, aided only by her combat training. With a knife in one hand and the truth in the other, she’ll cut through any lies to solve this case. The consequences be damned: Parker won’t rest until she exposes the conspirators behind the mine… and gets retaliation for her dad.

An Indonesian Vision Among New Mexican Deserts

For Trigger Warning, veteran Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya makes her English-language debut. And while helming an English-language Netflix action flick comes with constraints of budget and formula, Surya infuses the film with flashes of visual flair.

The action scenes especially showcase Surya’s talent for choreography. She stage-fights dexterously, cutting back and forth to keep viewers immersed. Jessica Alba’s skills are on full display too, whether battling baddies in close quarters or out in the dusty desert. Everything feels grounded, intense, and kinetic.

But the sleepy town of Creation proves another setting where Surya explores texture. Cinematographer Zoë White frames winding streets and neon-lit bars with a keen eye. Her sweeping shots of desert vistas really transport you to New Mexico. Through lighting and lensing, Surya breathes atmosphere into even standard settings.

Production design by Natasha Gerasimova also enhances the movie’s visual palette. From the rustic mining tunnels to swanky politician rallies, sets feel lived-in and real. Subtle details create a sense of place. These polished production values elevate the material.

Of course, not everything is a home run. The digital effects range from serviceable to noticeable. And Enis Rotthoff’s pounding score sometimes overrides tension with bombast. But Surya shows she’s a talent behind the camera, imbuing standard beats with her distinctive artistry.

While Trigger Warning won’t rewrite the rulebook, it proves a promising English-language debut for Surya. Within constraints, she crafts compelling visuals and cleverly staged action. Fans will hope Netflix chooses to further explore this Indonesian director’s vision on a larger canvas in the future.

Jessica Alba Still Has Action Hero Skills

For over a decade, Jessica Alba wowed audiences with her impressive physicality in films like Sin City and the Fantastic Four franchise. In Trigger Warning, she proves she’s still got it as an action lead. Despite a five-year big-screen hiatus, Alba is a total boss in hand-to-hand fights.

One scene really shows off her abilities. Parker battles three armed thugs in a bar with just knives. Alba performs complex knife maneuvers fluidly, backing up to dodge shots yet continuing attacks. She stands out even among the impressive stunt work. It’s easy to see Alba practicing these skills for maximal realism.

Beyond fights, Alba commits fully to Parker’s resolute personality. She exudes stoic determination while investigating her father’s death. Yet hints of vulnerability emerge regarding their bond. During a poignant flashback where Parker received knife training as a girl, subtleties in Alba’s eyes convey hurt over his loss. She balances Parker’s hardness with relatable emotion.

While the script isn’t the most nuanced, Alba makes the most of what she’s given. She carries the film with just her force of presence alone. Even in less physically demanding scenes, Alba commands attention through her confident line delivery and steely gaze. Her charisma draws us into Parker’s quest.

After years away from leading roles, Alba proves she’s still more than capable of shouldering an action flick. Though the part may not win awards, it’s a role perfectly suited to Alba’s well-honed skills. She breathes new, exhilarating life into a routine formula. If Trigger Warning spawns a franchise, Jessica Alba remains the ideal choice to lead the charge.

Trigger Warning Aims for More

While Trigger Warning follows a familiar action-revenge formula, it strives for deeper themes as well. Grief fuels much of the story as Parker seeks answers about her father’s death. Her fierce desire for vengeance arises from an intensely personal place of loss and longing for past closeness. Through flashbacks, we see a caring bond broken too soon.

The film also packs significant political subtext. Anthony Michael Hall plays a corrupt right-wing senator exploiting people for power. He and his family represent unchecked privilege, abuse of authority, and the promotion of destructive ideas. Trigger Warning consciously paints such figures as villains undermining justice. Though handling this aspect somewhat broadly, it aims to cut against the jingoistic grain of the genre’s past.

With a female lead and an international female director at the helm, Trigger Warning makes gestures towards breaking action cliches. Parker subverts expectations as a nuanced, multidimensional hero, not simply fighting bots. She feels emotion amidst action and utilizes intelligence, not just brawn. Interesting supporting characters like Spider also offer depth beyond just assisting the main plot.

While it never transcends the formula fully, Trigger Warning uses its revenge framework to touch on real themes of grief and corruption in high places and attempts to update the action genre for today. It strives to be more thoughtful than just mindless mayhem. For a Netflix thriller, its aims at subtlety in themes and identity-focused casting offer signs of forward progress.

A Competent But Calculated Combat Flick

Trigger Warning hits the marks expected of an action thriller but doesn’t entirely break the mold. It delivers the goods when it comes to fights and firefights, keeping viewers engaged through chases and explosions. However, the film feels crafted by a committee, with the creators playing it safe rather than taking risks.

Jessica Alba proves a capable leader, committing fully to stunts and showcasing athletic prowess. Her character Parker drives the revenger plot along predictable beats, lacking nuances that could have made her memorable. Comparisons to Rambo’s lone wolf warrior hold up in minutes devoted to fighting, but the character and story fall short of the depths plumbed in First Blood.

At the same time, Trigger Warning doesn’t quite live up to the twisty small-town intrigues of Justified either. Political corruption and personal vendettas featured here feel more like obligatory plot points than organic seeds for drama. The moves feel calculated rather than naturally emerging from richly drawn characters.

Overall, Trigger Warning delivers the empty-calorie combat viewers expect from Netflix action flicks. Though competently made, it plays it safer than necessary, missing chances to say more or surprise. The streaming giant has offered more consistently thrilling options that take full advantage of the creative freedom afforded by their platform. For a straightforward diversion, it satisfies in the moment. However, it won’t linger long in the memory after the final headshot. Trigger Warning triggers enjoyment but no lasting reflection.

Trigger Warning Ticks Action Boxes With Flaws

Trigger Warning delivers the shootouts and smackdowns that action audiences expect from a Jessica Alba vehicle. The star remains a convincing presence throughout, whether plunging blades into baddies or trading blows in brutal up-close fights. You won’t fail to be impressed by her physical commitment. Director Surya proves equally adept at staging kinetic sequences, though occasional choppy editing and iffy effects diminish some impacts.

The film fulfills its primary objective of maintaining engagement through a string of kinetic set pieces. These scenes keep the momentum chugging until the final confrontation. Yet Trigger Warning also struggles to escape familiarity, with plot points and character types feeling recycled rather than fresh. Opportunities exist to explore weightier issues or develop characters beyond surface archetypes.

While it fulfills its core function of providing distraction, trigger warning leaves frustration by never achieving more. The components exist for smarter, subtler work, but it plays everything too safe. Still, genre fans seeking an undemanding thrill ride won’t feel entirely let down. Alba’s appeal and the competent direction make it passable popcorn fare. Just don’t expect it to offer lasting resonance after the closing credits roll.

In the end, Trigger Warning delivers the non-stop action demanded of the form, though it also highlights roads not taken that could have made it more. As a mere vehicle to watch Alba kick and slice adversaries over 90 minutes, it gets the job done without outstanding remark. For what it sets out to be, it suffices, but it also suggests potential for even better.

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