Compared to what has been being produced today, this was a decent burner. Barry Pepper held it together and made it work. Not a lot unnecessary shoot em up bang bang but it made sense. Pay no attention to the clueless reviewers who can't get dates so let's hate on good effort. This was a good one time watch.
69 Reviews
He's still better than any of us
nogodnomasters24 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Louis/Nicolas (Barry Pepper) has been of the grid and living remotely in a small town for about a year since the incident. We get a back story where he was drugged and lost part of his memory, but before that he was tortured into giving up the names of others who work for the agency and they were subsequently assassinated. His boss locates him and asks him to help find his daughter who was taken by the bad guys.
We don't know exactly what "the agency" does other than "move stuff" which I assume is arms. They seem to have people in every small town in the Northeast. The background information was at best fuzzy. This is another tough guy killing folks with a hand gun vs automatic weapons. Leads to a second part.
Guide: F-word. No sex. Skinny girl wearing pasties.
We don't know exactly what "the agency" does other than "move stuff" which I assume is arms. They seem to have people in every small town in the Northeast. The background information was at best fuzzy. This is another tough guy killing folks with a hand gun vs automatic weapons. Leads to a second part.
Guide: F-word. No sex. Skinny girl wearing pasties.
Decent but empty
jmbovan-47-1601734 September 2021
So the mysterious background seeps through this film. And it ends with the mystery still shrouded. In between, there are action sequences and the best shot to ever appear on screen. Unfortunately, that is the only thing this film offers. It was a decent watch, but just empty of much plot or answers.
If you are a foreign student...
A_Different_Drummer23 April 2021
Script has been recycled so many times you would expect the DVD to come in an earth-friendly green (or blue) package. And this is not merely a low-budget indie, but it was filmed in Canada with Canadian actors. That's double jeopardy. Plot holes that even Georgia's Dept of Highways could not fix. Weak soundtrack and editing. If you are a foreign student who has been assigned TRIGGER POINT as a means to learn English, however, you will probably be pleasantly surprised.
Trigger Pointless
squintykids24 April 2021
Started off slowly and for a while thought this may turn out to be a good film.
Unfortunately it didn't; half way through the 'rescue' I started to play solitaire on my phone.
I honestly thought that much of the movie was the storyline fluff? Between the levels of an RPG.
Unfortunately it didn't; half way through the 'rescue' I started to play solitaire on my phone.
I honestly thought that much of the movie was the storyline fluff? Between the levels of an RPG.
Barry Pepper's performance was on point.
christinejoycruz3 May 2021
Movie started slow but I appreciated the chill Barry Pepper scenes. As always, Barry gives an awesome performance whether it is just quaint moments or intense scenes. I wish there was more hand to hand combat because Barry moved really well here. Quite predictable but because the movie was well cast, it was interesting to watch their take on this type of genre. Colm Feore made his reveal quite heartbreaking. Eve Harlow could have done more action here and of course the elusive Fiona Snow should have had her time with Nicolas. I am hoping the sequel comes because I think the the characters deserve to wrap this story up. Even Irene, the bookstore lady, did a good job.
Could be so much better
joencarrielang27 April 2021
It's a shame how easily this could've been so much better.
Top_Dawg_Critic26 April 2021
Think of this being a low-budget upstate NYC James Bond B-grade film. It had all the right elements to make it work, but failed in the screenplay - that with minor tweaks, could've been awesome.
Directing by Brad Turner was great, as was the cinematography. Even the score for a B film was good. The set locations were excellent (loved the house tech). The casting was great, and the performances, although somewhat flat, worked well in creating tension and suspense.
The 85 min runtime flew by, even with the somewhat slow pacing, in part from the perfect scene lengths, decent action, and story progression. I would've liked another 15-20 mins of action and character clarity, as well for some parts of the story, along with a little faster pacing.
The story's premise, although nothing new, still worked well by creating a well balanced focus on both the protagonist and the antagonist. But there were just too many unfulfilled and convoluted plot and technical issues, as well as these random characters popping in scenes with zero character background e.g. The school teacher.
I'm guessing writer Michael Vickerman was trying to create some type of vague character and sub-plot backgrounds that would be exploited in a part 2 of this film, but went overboard with the vagueness to the point you'll feel underwhelmed and wanting more by the end.
Overall, I actually enjoyed this film more than I thought, and although it wasn't a huge box-office success, I do hope they come out with a part 2. If you like this genre, it's a decent one-time watch on a "Popcorn & Movie Sunday".
Directing by Brad Turner was great, as was the cinematography. Even the score for a B film was good. The set locations were excellent (loved the house tech). The casting was great, and the performances, although somewhat flat, worked well in creating tension and suspense.
The 85 min runtime flew by, even with the somewhat slow pacing, in part from the perfect scene lengths, decent action, and story progression. I would've liked another 15-20 mins of action and character clarity, as well for some parts of the story, along with a little faster pacing.
The story's premise, although nothing new, still worked well by creating a well balanced focus on both the protagonist and the antagonist. But there were just too many unfulfilled and convoluted plot and technical issues, as well as these random characters popping in scenes with zero character background e.g. The school teacher.
I'm guessing writer Michael Vickerman was trying to create some type of vague character and sub-plot backgrounds that would be exploited in a part 2 of this film, but went overboard with the vagueness to the point you'll feel underwhelmed and wanting more by the end.
Overall, I actually enjoyed this film more than I thought, and although it wasn't a huge box-office success, I do hope they come out with a part 2. If you like this genre, it's a decent one-time watch on a "Popcorn & Movie Sunday".
Not living up to its potential
billteller20 September 2021
Watch it properly
les-turpin24 July 2021
Part one of a longer story
polexia_rogue24 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I have been looking forward to this for over a month. I knew that it would not get a major release since it was in direct competition with the new (rated R, all Australian) Mortal Kombat movie.
So I was beyond thrilled that I could BUY (not just rent) Trigger Point for 14.99 on Itunes.
Verdict: 6.5/10
Why?
It gets 3 points for Barry Pepper's amazing performance. The director himself said this character (Nicolas Shaw) is inspired by John Wick. He is alone, a former warrior trying to restart his life in a small town. But unlike John Wick, there is no dead wife and no dog. (Although Nicolas Shaw does leave out a can of tuna for a pregnant stray cat.)
I will also give 0.5 of a point for his relationships. He is not a loner; he acts like a retired senior, hanging out at a cafe, talking to a young waitress (Janice, a single mother), and at a bookstore (owned by Irene, an elderly woman with a passion for tea.)
So that is 3.5 points.
Nicolas Shaw has flashbacks to a time when he was tortured by two figures (his memories come back little by little until he can recall their voices; one male, one female.) This is a running theme that adds depth and replaces the 'dead wife' aspect. He is mourning his past, his lost memories in the same way John Wick was mourning his wife. For this aspect alone I will add 2 points.
And for the main reason, we watch a Barry Pepper movie; gun! He has a collection of guns, makes his own gun, and of course, there is a sniper scene.
Now for the bad:
Fiona Shaw (played by Laura Vandervoort) who the heck is that? His wife, his sister, his daughter? (Minor spoilers: she is the female voice present when Nicolas Shaw was tortured. ) I have a feeling the bigger answer is being saved for a future movie.
As I said before John Wick was in mourning for his wife, while Nicolas Shaw is in mourning for his lost memories (since a certain bad guy had him convinced that he gave up names to save his own life.) This makes it difficult to sympathize with him as a character.
Does he clear his name? No.
Does he constantly mention how the torture incident 'ruined his life.'- yes.
Maybe that's my issue; what kind of life did Nicolas Shaw have before being forced into hiding?
Only a sequel can tell us.
So I was beyond thrilled that I could BUY (not just rent) Trigger Point for 14.99 on Itunes.
Verdict: 6.5/10
Why?
It gets 3 points for Barry Pepper's amazing performance. The director himself said this character (Nicolas Shaw) is inspired by John Wick. He is alone, a former warrior trying to restart his life in a small town. But unlike John Wick, there is no dead wife and no dog. (Although Nicolas Shaw does leave out a can of tuna for a pregnant stray cat.)
I will also give 0.5 of a point for his relationships. He is not a loner; he acts like a retired senior, hanging out at a cafe, talking to a young waitress (Janice, a single mother), and at a bookstore (owned by Irene, an elderly woman with a passion for tea.)
So that is 3.5 points.
Nicolas Shaw has flashbacks to a time when he was tortured by two figures (his memories come back little by little until he can recall their voices; one male, one female.) This is a running theme that adds depth and replaces the 'dead wife' aspect. He is mourning his past, his lost memories in the same way John Wick was mourning his wife. For this aspect alone I will add 2 points.
And for the main reason, we watch a Barry Pepper movie; gun! He has a collection of guns, makes his own gun, and of course, there is a sniper scene.
Now for the bad:
Fiona Shaw (played by Laura Vandervoort) who the heck is that? His wife, his sister, his daughter? (Minor spoilers: she is the female voice present when Nicolas Shaw was tortured. ) I have a feeling the bigger answer is being saved for a future movie.
As I said before John Wick was in mourning for his wife, while Nicolas Shaw is in mourning for his lost memories (since a certain bad guy had him convinced that he gave up names to save his own life.) This makes it difficult to sympathize with him as a character.
Does he clear his name? No.
Does he constantly mention how the torture incident 'ruined his life.'- yes.
Maybe that's my issue; what kind of life did Nicolas Shaw have before being forced into hiding?
Only a sequel can tell us.
Disappointing and predictable
solipsist_in_a_cloud26 February 2022
Well, I wanted to get an old school movie and I do like Barry Pepper. Thus him being main act I hoped it would be worth it. However, storyline was far too simple and well predictable. Acting was decent, but rather routine. Ending was really disappointing because it was kind of a cliff hanger. Somehow it feels that the movie was just an intro for a sequel, but it wasn't good enough to get me interested to wait for the next part.
Can't recommend
fgeek25 April 2021
They're lucky their cliche machine didn't overheat and explode during production.
rorymcpedal27 April 2021
This movie is so poorly written and directed that the lighting and the acting are gonna get away without being criticized. I don't have that kind of time.
The script is so cliched and so hacky that I could actually say the lines (paraphrased) along with the characters while watching It for the first time. The dialogue was so cringy that I think my paraphrasing might have been better than the script. Every lame, creaky plot point and plot device you've seen a thousand times are trotted out and plopped on the screen in a sort of order that makes for a beginning, middle and end, but not for a decent movie. I could've written this in a weekend, and I'm no writer.
Unfortunately, the directing makes the writing look like pure gold in comparison. The gunplay, what there is of it, is eye-rollingly unbelievable. Not in a fun way, like in "Shoot 'em Up", but just as dull as the rest of the movie, only less believable. Every angle chosen is the wrong one, it seems, and and every cut is at the wrong moment. It's hard to go any more detail without giving any spoilers, so I won't.
As any number of movies have proven, you don't need a big budget to know how people talk to each other, to know what range hand guns are effective at, to be able to guess at how people react to certain situations, and how they don't. You don't need a big budget to close up plot holes that the Evergiven could get through. What you do need is some careful people working on the production. That's really what seems to be the overarching problem with this piece of dreck. It's as if no one, from start to finish, cared at all about how this came out.
The script is so cliched and so hacky that I could actually say the lines (paraphrased) along with the characters while watching It for the first time. The dialogue was so cringy that I think my paraphrasing might have been better than the script. Every lame, creaky plot point and plot device you've seen a thousand times are trotted out and plopped on the screen in a sort of order that makes for a beginning, middle and end, but not for a decent movie. I could've written this in a weekend, and I'm no writer.
Unfortunately, the directing makes the writing look like pure gold in comparison. The gunplay, what there is of it, is eye-rollingly unbelievable. Not in a fun way, like in "Shoot 'em Up", but just as dull as the rest of the movie, only less believable. Every angle chosen is the wrong one, it seems, and and every cut is at the wrong moment. It's hard to go any more detail without giving any spoilers, so I won't.
As any number of movies have proven, you don't need a big budget to know how people talk to each other, to know what range hand guns are effective at, to be able to guess at how people react to certain situations, and how they don't. You don't need a big budget to close up plot holes that the Evergiven could get through. What you do need is some careful people working on the production. That's really what seems to be the overarching problem with this piece of dreck. It's as if no one, from start to finish, cared at all about how this came out.
Killer for hire
kosmasp25 November 2021
I think most will agree that it is Barry Pepper with whom this movie stands tall - without him, this may have crumbled under the cliche and the thin story it tries to sell and tell us. Still that might be more than enough for some - it was just about for me.
Well shot in general, with an introduction that was way too slow and had nothing much happening in it. But the action later on kind of made up for that. Not a masterpiece by any mean of that word, but a solid action thriller with some interesting characters and actors in it.
Well shot in general, with an introduction that was way too slow and had nothing much happening in it. But the action later on kind of made up for that. Not a masterpiece by any mean of that word, but a solid action thriller with some interesting characters and actors in it.
Hallmark spy movie
MattWillow9 July 2022
Man, this was tough to watch. Got big time hallmark vibes from the "village" he was living in. Quite short runtime but still got the feeling it dragged along. Plotholes and shortcuts aplenty, and at the end they hint of a sequel...no i tells ya! Barry Pepper was the only one coming close to doing some acting, and he wasn't even all that great here. Bad even for a b movie.
Will hold your interest
xenafan4028 June 2021
I'm prompted to review due to the scathing review currently influencing viewers, & i'll be brief, i give any movie around 20 minutes and if i'm not drawn in by the story, i don't waste any more time on it. This one kept my interest throughout, so i'd certainly say it's watchable at very least, and a worthy 6.5 - 7. Compared to what's been going around for some time.
With around 85% of current movies being utterly dire and unwatchable, this was rather good, not huge stars but well acted with intriguing story line that keeps you wondering till the end.
With around 85% of current movies being utterly dire and unwatchable, this was rather good, not huge stars but well acted with intriguing story line that keeps you wondering till the end.
Good lead, bad movie
fluffchop20 December 2021
This movie is a comedy right?! This guy, come off it the car has camoflage netting on it, give me a break. Empty your pockets. "I'm not comfortable with that". Hahahahaa how ridiculous. "The" "Agency", come off it you idiots. There are no agencies, it's all Government. Now they mention not being officially shut down so they still have funding. No way!!! That never happens. Funding would have ended period. I've had enough after 25 minutes of nonsense.
Loved this movie start to finish
scott-logan-197-8740757 September 2021
Still a 7, suffers from clichés though
shide_8524 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In short:
Some reviewer wrote it was a 6.5 and that is about right. Cast makes a good enough performance, Barry Pepper and Colm Feore carry the movie most of the time. If you want a more accurate portrayal of agents this is a decent movie to watch, the plotline stand one foot apart fromt he clichés, at times it works well at other times it's too close.
In longer The gunfights are somewhat ok, though the distance shots and some of the work with angles are not good. Seems like they one minute has someone coreographing them well while at a few points they simply wing it. Though the drone use looked like proper modern city warfare and was a nice addition. This movie does have that, some really nice additions, like the home versus how he manages tracking & interplays with the phone. Or how file movements are managed.
The "ending scene" is also one to keep an eye out near the sea, its well coreographed and should be watched if you are into movies for that alone.
Pro's Mostly accurate behaviour of an active field agent (imo) Uses a clichéridden plotline that still doesn't bore you to death Some nice camera shots and one really nice
Con's Light gun, some gore spray effects could have made sense to make the intense firefight more intense (i don't mean extreme) Some scenes in the firefights regarding angles Sound/music could have been done better to push the states of the movie and build momentum
End notes: One agent in the cast doesn't fit the role (though I have to admit I've missed a characteract like that since the Boondock Saints where he delivered well) though I have to ask myself how is he not getting more voice acting work???
In longer The gunfights are somewhat ok, though the distance shots and some of the work with angles are not good. Seems like they one minute has someone coreographing them well while at a few points they simply wing it. Though the drone use looked like proper modern city warfare and was a nice addition. This movie does have that, some really nice additions, like the home versus how he manages tracking & interplays with the phone. Or how file movements are managed.
The "ending scene" is also one to keep an eye out near the sea, its well coreographed and should be watched if you are into movies for that alone.
Pro's Mostly accurate behaviour of an active field agent (imo) Uses a clichéridden plotline that still doesn't bore you to death Some nice camera shots and one really nice
Con's Light gun, some gore spray effects could have made sense to make the intense firefight more intense (i don't mean extreme) Some scenes in the firefights regarding angles Sound/music could have been done better to push the states of the movie and build momentum
End notes: One agent in the cast doesn't fit the role (though I have to admit I've missed a characteract like that since the Boondock Saints where he delivered well) though I have to ask myself how is he not getting more voice acting work???
Need to watch again just to add up the dumb mistakes
jimmeade-0954324 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Here is a couple. Our guy is sneaking around perimeter of house in the rain. But as he moves to other side of house it is not raining? Our guy nurses the daughter of Elias who has been shot in the side. He toches the wound and then moves his hand from her side to upper body but on the way he either taps her crotch or wipes blood on it? Elias confronts our guy's handler at the library. Elias pulls a gun on her and demands our guy's whereabouts. Elias and the librarian are aware of eachothers role in the CIA. She calls him a traitor and we hear a bang. Elias comes out and tells his completely inept buddy she was of no use. We know at the point she must have taken one between the eyes but she pops up later in the film with a arm injury. Really Elias would have missed or just wounded her for what reason? Elias and our guy emerge from a car and of course they are armed to the teeth. Right? But this guy searchs both of them for weapons and either misses them or they left them in the car? Unlikely. So our guy counts 17 shots that Elias has fired? Then tells Elias that he shot 17 times and therefore has an empty gun. Elias admits he was not counting and drops his empty gun? I guess he knows our guy is not a liar. Wait a second I think my Glock has an opening you can see if there is one in the chamber but Elias never was a little curious? What if our guy counted 16 and is not being truthful or never counted at all. Our at one point shot everyone with his silencer but forgot to pick up any one of numerous assault weapons or clips. Gee he ran out of bullets and designed a weapon out of plumbing pipe? Got one shot out of it and to my surprise slamed a hammer against it and shot a guy dead right there. So pick up the guys weapon already. Our guy returns to his delux lair. He has no weapon. But gets into his house and goes right to a hidden computer and searches on it for a time. But he has a closet right there with all kinds of weapons. That is the first thing I do is get a gun but not our guy;plenty of time for that later.
Pulling trigger ain't action
roh_reh25 April 2021
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