"Trigger Warning" MOVIE REVIEW.

 "Trigger Warning"

MOVIE REVIEW.

Trigger Warning, is a 2024 American action thriller that centers around Parker, played by Jessica Alba, a highly skilled Special Forces officer. After the sudden death of her father, she inherits his bar and returns to her hometown of Creation, New Mexico. But things are far from simple. Soon after arriving, Parker finds herself entangled in a deadly conflict with a violent gang that's been terrorizing the town.

Directed by Mouly Surya, making her debut in an English-language film, Trigger Warning was written by John Brancato, Josh Olson, and Halley Gross. This film also stars Mark Webber, Tone Bell, Jake Weary, Gabriel Basso, and Anthony Michael Hall, with production by Thunder Road Films and Lady Spitfire. Although originally acquired by Thunder Road Films in 2016, Netflix took over the project in 2020. After filming in New Mexico, the movie was finally released on Netflix on June 21, 2024, but unfortunately, it received negative reviews from critics.

The story opens with Parker, a highly trained CIA operative, on a mission in Syria. Her world shifts when she receives a call from her ex-lover and the sheriff of her hometown, Jesse Swann, informing her of her father's death in a suspicious mining accident. Upon returning to her hometown for the funeral and to manage her father's bar, Maria's, Parker begins to investigate the circumstances around her father's death, quickly realizing it wasn’t just an accident.

Things start to spiral out of control when Parker crosses paths with Jesse’s younger brother, Elvis, and the dangerous criminal underworld he operates in. As Parker digs deeper into her investigation, she learns that Elvis is a major player in the illegal arms trade, selling weapons to terrorists via the dark web. This discovery pushes her into a confrontation with not only Elvis but also Jesse and their corrupt father, Senator Ezekiel Swann, who is up for reelection.

Ezekiel’s campaign is being funded by the illegal arms operation run out of Harry's mine—Parker's late father's property. As she uncovers the truth, Parker’s battle against the Swann family intensifies. In retaliation, Elvis and his crew burn down Maria's, killing one of Parker’s friends and resulting in her arrest. But even locked up, Parker isn’t done yet.

Parker’s fight is a race against time as she gathers allies, including her CIA friend Spider and some family friends, to take down the Swanns and expose their illegal dealings. Meanwhile, the stakes are raised when a domestic terrorist known as Ghost, who has already paid the Swanns for stolen military-grade weapons, starts to pressure them for delivery.

The final showdown takes place in the mines, where Parker battles her enemies one by one. She eliminates Elvis and his men and finally faces Jesse, who, in a desperate move, tries to regain control of the situation with a grenade in hand. In a heart-stopping moment, Jesse realizes there’s no way out and chooses to blow himself up rather than be captured. 

With the Swann family destroyed, Parker is finally free to move on from her past. As the movie closes, we see Parker and Spider driving cross-country, heading back to their CIA jobs, while their friend Mike video calls to show them the progress on rebuilding Maria’s bar.

Trigger Warning offers an action-packed ride with Jessica Alba delivering a strong, combat-ready performance. Despite the exciting fight sequences and intense storyline, the movie didn’t manage to resonate well with critics, who gave it a lukewarm reception. However, if you’re a fan of high-octane action and thrillers, this movie is still worth a watch!

What did you think about Trigger Warning? Did the action keep you on the edge of your seat? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more movie breakdowns and reviews!