Our take
Directed by Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya (Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts), Trigger Warning is a technically impressive film that boasts beautiful cinematography and a handful of skillfully choreographed action sequences. Unfortunately, it’s let down by a mediocre and occasionally inconsistent script, as well as a less-than-stellar lead performance by Jessica Alba. Alba’s stunt double does well enough, but the actress herself is too lightweight to hold her own scenes. The CGI-ridden cold open doesn’t do it any favors too, sadly setting the tone of this promising but ultimately disappointing film.
The story
A Special Forces commando uncovers a dangerous conspiracy when she returns to her hometown looking for answers regarding her beloved father's death.
Elsewhere
"Indonesian director Mouly Surya’s well-crafted first English-language feature is too formulaically contrived to qualify as “elevated genre” or to boast the personal stamp of her prior work. Still, it’s an entertaining, pacey action melodrama."
— Dennis Harvey
When Parker (Jessica Alba), a special forces soldier, receives news of her father’s passing, she returns to her hometown to investigate the real cause of his death. But the more she prods, the more she gets entangled in a complicated and deathly case of corruption.
As someone who's seen (and loved!) Marlina and the Murderer in Four Acts, I appreciate the references made and the similarities shared between the protagonists of both films.
It’s okay, but not good enough to make it stand out from its overcrowded genre.
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
