The Trigger Effect (1996)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

David Koepp

Writers (WGA):

James Burke (television series Connections)
David Koepp (written by)

Release Date:

30 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Action

Tagline:

When Nothing Works, Anything Goes.

Plot:

How tenuous is man's hold on civilization when survival becomes an issue? When the lights go out and stay out for several days...

Plot Keywords:

Bra Less | See Through Clothes | Black Brassiere | Based On TV Series | Breasts

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan	...	Matthew
Elisabeth Shue	...	Annie Kay
Dermot Mulroney	...	Joe
Richard T. Jones	...	Raymond
Bill Smitrovich	...	Steph
Michael Rooker	...	Gary
Tori Kristiansen	...	Sarah
Tyra Kristiansen	...	Sarah
Rick Worthy	...	Johnny
Edhem Barker	...	Trendy German Guy
Tyrone Tann	...	Tripping Guy
David O'Donnell	...	Hand Holding Guy
Monica Torres	...	Hand Holding Girl
Greg Grunberg	...	Double Date Guy
Kerri Vickers	...	Double Date Girl

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:U | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Alamitos, California, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The story is inspired by the classic "The Twilight Zone" (1959) episode "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street," which depicts the denizens of the street slowly becoming crazy after a power failure. In fact, in the film's production notes, Matthew and Annie live on the corner of Maple and Willoughby (another classic TZ episode, "A Stop At Willoughby"), obvious allusions to "The Twilight Zone".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Matthew walks from the hospital to the pharmacist to steal the prescription for the baby, the trolley camera and the guy pulling it are reflected in the shop window.

Quotes:

Matthew: Is it bad out there?
Cop: Out where?

Movie Connections:

References Clockers (1995)

Soundtrack:

Danger Tension

One of the worst movies I've seen...

There are few things I hate more than being beaten over the head with the message a movie is trying to get across. The creators obviously became so wrapped up in conveying an interesting theme that they forgot about the importance of the other aspects of a good movie (character development, action, a PLOT)...This had potential- good actors, rising tension (in the beginning) and an interesting situation to be delt with. However, it soon became a downward spiral of events that were unbelievable and unoriginal. It became downright silly. The ending was so contrived it made me laugh. Even the acting didn't save this- I didn't care about these characters or what happened to them. This one will be *remembered?* as a movie that had potential but was unable to deliver.