Revenge thrillers have the potential to make for exciting films. With the popularity of movies like John Wick, the natural course would be to try and tap into that market. Trigger Warning is simply the latest to throw their name in the ring, hoping to catch the public’s attention. So, is it worthy of the viewer’s attention? Here’s your warning: No. From stilted performances, generic plotlines, lackluster action, and melodramatic tension, this movie could be forgiven for being mistaken for entirely AI-generated. From top to bottom, not a single fresh or original idea can be found. When opponents of artificial intelligence speak of the dangers of AI films, this kind of movie is what they are afraid of.

Trigger Warning. (L-R) Jessica Alba as Parker and Tone Bell as Spider in Trigger Warning. Cr. Ursula Coyote/Netflix ©2024.Jessica Alba plays Parker, a former special forces commando who returns to her hometown after her father’s unexpected death. Concerned that his death wasn’t natural, she begins investigating and quickly runs afoul of a local politician (Anthony Michael Hall), his sons Jesse (Mark Webber) and Elvis (Jake Weary), and some small-town arms-dealing gang members. This sets Parker on a journey of revenge and survival.

Trigger Warning. Anthony Michael Hall as Ezekiel in Trigger Warning. Cr. Netflix ©2024.Indonesian director Mouly Surya attempts to wrangle some life into the uninspired script but struggles to strike any sort of balance between genres. As the first English-language film by the director, there are bound to be some growing pains. However, other directors have made the transition seamlessly. There’s not enough action to classify it as an action piece, nor is there any suspense behind the father’s death to make it a thriller. The writers even try to add some political commentary, but a segment where white politician Ezekial questions Parker “about the meaning of Latinx” feels both ignorant and lazy.

Trigger Warning. (L-R) Jake Weary as Elvis, Anthony Michael Hall as Ezekiel and Mark Webber as Jesse in Trigger Warning. Cr. Netflix ©2024.Alba undeniably has charisma but has always failed to convert that into a strong performance. Her performance here is no exception, delivering lines as though off cue cards and failing to truly realize Parker as a character. She, however, is the film’s biggest asset, as the rest of the cast fails to even reach her wooden delivery. While the cast is given such generic characters and dialogue, it is apparent there was no motivation to transcend what was on the page.

Cinematographer Zoë White breathes a little life into the film through some decently polished visuals that make the film, at the very least, pleasant to look at. And for a direct-to-streaming, perhaps that is enough. Catch the audience’s eye with something shiny and hope they keep it playing as a mild curiosity. Whether such little ambition is the fault of the filmmakers or the production company remains to be seen.

Trigger Warning. Jessica Alba as Parker in Trigger Warning. Cr. Netflix ©2024.In a market filled with streaming services clamoring to release their own exclusive material to keep viewers subscribed, a strong case can be made for the latter. However, when the results are as abysmal as Trigger Warning, one must wonder if the payoff is worth the efforts of all involved. Ultimately, Trigger Warning’s list of red flags is a mile long. Decent visuals aside, wooden performances tout out generic dialogue through a formulaic plot directed with zero gusto.

Josh’s Rating: 1/10Watch Trigger Warning on Netflix. Netflix distributes.Please check out other Sunshine State Cineplex reviews here!Check out our Reviews, Recaps, and Features on TV here! The post Review: TRIGGER WARNING – The Best Warning is to Stay Away appeared first on Sunshine State Cineplex.