For some genres of film you can always rinse and repeat content, characters and story and come out with something new for audiences to enjoy. Although true to some degree it does not necessary mean just because you think you have the right pieces that you will come out with the full picture. Films such as Taken and John Wick still prove that with just some added elements these types of films still provide a thrilling adrenaline rush. The newest film to enter this realm comes from television director Brad Turner (24, Safehaven) entitled Trigger Point. The film follows Nicolas Shaw, a retired U.S special operative currently in isolation in a small undisclosed town. Shaw, played by Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, 61*), seems to be living the quiet life until an old acquaintance pops up that pulls him back into the muck.
The film starts off right away depicting multiple swift executions with the trail now leading to Shaw. His old partner Elias, played by Colm Feore (The Umbrella Academy), shows up to warn him of the oncoming threat as well as enlist him to help free his daughter who is being held hostage. The plot is simple to follow and there’s no denying that both Pepper and Feore are solid in their performances but there was not enough time to ingest everything that was happening. The runtime is slim clocking in at 79 minutes from start till roll of credits and it is there I feel Turner dropped the ball. It is not until the final act that we start to get more information of a deeper story than what we have been watching unfold but the only problem is we will most likely never see it. The film is filled with ambiguous backstory and characters that you think would be revealed but are merely hinted it. The world Shaw is from as well does not seem like your run of the mill agency either and felt as if there was a whole underbelly society similar to the John Wick films.
There is no denying Turner has the ability to thrust his audience into intense situations as the film’s action scenes were well executed. That is a shame too because Pepper nailed it as an ice cold, calculating yet charming agent similar to Leon in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional. Knowing now how the film played out I would have preferred the main action sequence and overall story to be summed up sooner than lead towards the bigger moment that we never got. It is enjoyable on the surface but nothing more than a random viewing.
Rating:
2 out of 5
Film is available via Google Movies & currently in theaters
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