Despite his best wishes, Nicolas (Barry Pepper), a former U.S. Secret Agent is brought out of hiding when a request for his skills is needed to rescue a colleague. The quiet life that he had spent time building is now crumbling around him as he’s thrust back into the memories of his past to find answers for his future.
I can see what the team behind Trigger Point was wanting to do with this film. A serviceable enough plot of a disgraced secret agent given the opportunity to right the wrongs of his past with one last mission, mixed with some semi-known actors had the potential to be another entry in the growing library of secret agent films. Unfortunately, writer Michael Vickerman and director Brad Turner fall flat and churn out a dull flick that we’ve all seen before.
The writing here is the biggest offender. As soon as Carlo Rota’s Dwight is introduced to the story (about 20 minutes in), I was immediately lost and not given any opportunity to find myself back again. The story just kept moving forward, introducing new characters and convoluted plot points without any real reason. It was as if Vickerman had too many ideas about what he wanted this story to become and nobody to reign him in. Everything was portrayed in a way that made it feel like you were thrust right into the middle of a television series and needed to fill in the gaps of what you had missed in the previous episodes.
A television series is what I think Trigger Point should have been. The grandiose secret agent espionage story Vickerman wanted to tell could have had the room it needed to breathe to tell it efficiently and coherently. Instead, by the end of the film, the introduced characters and side plots are left to be answered in a potential sequel that I would be shocked got greenlit.
Another reason Trigger Point could have worked on TV is that, unfortunately, the actors aren’t strong enough to carry the weight of what Vickerman and Turner wanted to do here. Barry Pepper is great but his character was written to never fail which caused much of the film to be boring because you knew he’d be fine. The supporting cast was unfortunately not given much to work with so their characters just turn out to be bland and annoying. The only real (pleasant) surprise was Jayne Eastwood‘s bookkeeper. I’d watch a show just about her.
Overall, Trigger Point does nothing new to standout above any of the other secret agent films out there. From a bloated and derived script to directing that would have fit better on the silver screen, you’re better off watching anything else.
Signature Entertainment presents TRIGGER POINT on Digital Platforms today.
Reviewed online (screener provided by Signature Entertainment), July 11, 2021. Rating: Cert 15. Running time: 83 min.
PRODUCTION: (CAN) A Signature Entertainment release of a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, High Park Entertainment, Landmark Studio Group, Ontario Creates, and Peace River Pictures production. Producer: Thomas Vencelides. Executive Producers: Eric Birnberg, David Fannon, Conor McAdam, David Nadelberg, Seth Needle, Alana Omolayole, David Ozer, Barry Pepper, Jessica Petelle, Tim Rouhana, Brad Turner, Michael Vickerman, and Thomas Walden.
CREW: Director: Brad Turner. Writer: Michael Vickerman. Cinematography: Brett Van Dyke. Editing: David B. Thompson. Music: Andrew Lockington and Michael White.
CAST: Barry Pepper, Colm Feore, Eve Harlow, Carlo Rota, Jayne Eastwood, Nazneen Contractor, Laura Vandervoort, Karen Robinson, Rainbow Sun Francks, Greg Bryk, John Kirkpatrick, Ryan Malcolm, Reid Janisse, Juan Carlos Velis, Tim Progosh, Brian Cook, Susie Bianco, Anthony Ferri, Plato Fountidakis.