“Trigger Warning” on Soap2Day Movies is a somber, self-serious movie that lacks the intelligence to recognize how incredibly stupid it could be if it went all in. Or, at the very least, the know-how to take it to the thrilling place it so desperately wants to be. In “Trigger Warning,” disparities frequently surface, most frequently with the Shaw family. Parker looks into it and finds video that her father recorded using covert cameras showing Elvis Shaw negotiating illicit arms sales to domestic terrorists. We take a detour to discuss the involvement of Elvis’ brother Jesse and his father, Senator Swan, who is seeking reelection. How is Elvis using an army base to test heavy weapons? Why does Senator Swan find Parker’s endorsement so intriguing?
Surya frequently struggles to work within the constraints of her screenplay and money. Her previous film, the rural Indonesian thriller “Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts,” had its Cannes premiere and was chosen to represent Indonesia in the Academy Awards. Here, she makes good use of that knowledge. Surya creates several exquisitely staged views, aside from the shaky VFX- heavy portions. The rocky environment, dirt roads, and wooden interiors are all beautifully captured. However, the rural area where this movie is set is terribly underfunded.