8. The Trigger Effect (Dir.: David Koepp, 1993)
David Koepp, the screenwriter of Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds, has made a handful of features as a director (including this months
Premium Rush). In 1993, Koepp wrote and directed a fascinating take on the disaster/apocalypse genre with The Trigger Effect. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Elizabeth Shue, Dermot Mulroney and Michael Rooker, the plot is centred on a massive blackout that causes havoc, paranoia and isolation in Los Angeles. Matthew and Annie are a married couple with many problems. Annie sees her husband as weak and cowardly established at the beginning of the movie when Annie is verbally berated by a rude cinema patron while her husband watches on. Mulroneys Joe is a friend of the couple and former lover of Annies who comes to stay after a massive blackout leaves the city (and possibly the entire country it is never fully revealed) in darkness and without any electricity. Koepp later explores the same themes and highlights the dangers of a society thrown into uncertainty and chaos in Steven Spielbergs
War of the Worlds but this is not invading hostile Martians this is thrusting an over dependent society into the primitive ages. The film has outstanding performances particularly from MacLachlan and Mulroney. In the case of the former, the
Blue Velvet star is presented as an effeminate passive husband to Elizabeth Shue who has little or no respect for her spouse. His slow progression as a rational thoughtful man applying logic and calm to a pandemic situation is a strong anchor for the film. MacLachlans Matthew doesnt display traditional leading man characteristics in this type of movie. There are no sweeping gestures of violence or heroics he is simply keeping his nerve and his guile in an impossible time. Mulroneys Joe too is presented as a counterpoint to Matthew he is Stanley Kowalski-like in his masculinity. He has brawn and potent sexuality that creates a love triangle between the three lead actors. Like War of the Worlds, Koepp harrowingly demonstrates the real fears of society is not invading Martians or in this case, a massive blackout, but how people can turn into Darwinian primitives when the layers of civilisation begin to unravel. A terrific thriller!