The Trigger Effect (David Koepp 1996)

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The Trigger Effect
Trigger.png
Released:
May 16, 1996
Blog date:
November 19, 2011 (~13 years ago.)
Preceded by:
Followed by:

The third of four entries to Shuelogy, Troy covers a sci-fi thriller.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Transcript[edit | edit source]

What's Going On In a world where everyone is simultaneously having their Falling Down Moment,[1] suburban married couple Kyle MacLachlan and Elisabeth Shue deal with a sudden and unexplained blackout, eventually enlisting the aide of their masculine friend Dermot Mulroney to protect their child, household, and selves from an increasingly violent environment. Sounds like there's a lesson brewing here for these characters, but what life lessons and philosophies can we take from the Trigger Effect?

Aggression is Bad

The film opens with an extended single take crane shot in which the camera winds through a shopping mall and introduces us to a chain of strangers interacting negatively with one another. The escalating Pay Shit Forward parade ends when a pair of loud black filmgoers seemingly cause a brief power outage by sheer force of their disruptive chatter during the movie. It's later implied that the subsequent extended blackout is simply the result of people being mean to one another.

Non-Elisabeth Shue Film Application Next time the power flickers or goes out, don't bother going down to the basement to check the circuit breakers. Instead, be extra nice to everyone in your immediate vicinity until the lights come back on. If you have someone over and want to set the mood, behave passive-aggressively towards your paramour until the lights dim to the proper romantic level.

Aggression is Good

MacLachlan's effete husband is routinely judged by Shue and the film for his lack of aggression, especially in situations in which not reacting violently is clearly the course of action. That he decides to let things go and not stick up for himself is seen as a detriment, despite the weak chiding the film eventually makes towards these behaviors. When a smug pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription for the couple's infant child, MacLachlan first concedes defeat before brashly sneaking in behind the unlocked pharmacy counter to swipe the medicine. Upon hearing of his behavior, Shue exhibits for the first and last time in the film a sexual interest in her husband. This is also pretty much the first and last time their baby serves as any sort of contributing factor to anything happening on screen.

Non-Elisabeth Shue Film Application If you want to reignite the passion within your frigid significant other, steal medicine for your sick infant. If your infant is not sick, either wait patiently or consider leaving the nursery windows open at all times. If you don't have an infant, consider stealing one, getting it sick, and then obtaining medicine for it (as you've already stolen the infant, the medicine may be purchased if so desired).

At Times of High Stress, Invite Someone You're Sexually Threatened By to Spend Copious Amounts of Time With Your Wife

Just before Shue gives in to MacLachlan post-theft, the man whom she was just transferring sexual feelings for anyways shows up to show up her husband. Despite being very obviously threatened by and jealous of their mutual construction foreman friend, Mulroney accepts an offer to spend the blackout with the couple as a form of protection from perceived external dangers (this is already a problematic film, but when Dermot Mulroney is being held up as a burly masculine ideal of street smarts, protection, and male sexuality, something's gone terribly wrong with society indeed). Somehow inviting a rival for his wife's attention causes more problems than it solves for MacLachlan, and jealousy gets added to an already overstuffed bag of cloying emotional ploys in the film.

Non-Elisabeth Shue Film Application To prove that you're not threatened by those you are threatened by, invite them to spend time with you and what you fear losing.

Ex. Forget fancy locks and alarm systems, invite burglars over for a mixer. Move all of your most precious belongings into the living room and excuse yourself to the bathroom repeatedly. Leave out several easily-accessible dollies for your heavier items. Put all of your money in one of those big beige sacks with a dollar sign on it and place it in a wheelbarrow near the door. Let your belongings know you trust them not to get stolen.


The Right Time to Reinforce Your Anti-Gun Stance is When Society Devolves Into Anarchic Chaos

Elisabeth Shue's character hates guns and hates having guns in the house. Thus, at the earliest possible opportunity, she chucks the shotgun her husband traded his $600 watch for into the swimming pool. Of course, that's also the night an armed prowler decides to break in.

Non-Elisabeth Shue Film Application Always stick to your ideological beliefs, even in times of crisis.

Ex. You're stranded on a desert island. The only thing to eat is fish, but you're a strict vegan. Starve to death to show your fellow fishing castaways how strongly you disapprove of their barbarism.


It is Unreasonable to Consider an Armed and Intense Man a Threat

After Mulroney stabs an intruder to death, all agree the smart decision is a road trip north to Shue's parents in Colorado. Mulroney dives into the pool and salvages the gun as best he can before they leave. Society has degenerated and it's every man for himself, so of course the intrepid group of travelers stop several times to place themselves in harm's way. After being startled by a sleeping Michael Rooker in a seemingly abandoned car, Mulroney and MacLachlan rebuff the intimidating Rooker's pleas for a ride. His insistence becomes more sinister when they notice the handgun sticking out of his pocket. Mulroney decides to be proactive and points a shotgun at Rooker. Rooker responds by shooting him and then blaming everyone else for Mulroney's injury, as he never intended to hurt them and they drew first. He kicks them out of their car and takes their keys, chastising them as he drives away. The moralizing is so subtle in this film, that's what I like about it.

Non-Elisabeth Shue Film Application When encountering a pushy and armed stranger, always let him draw first, so that after he shoots you he can't blame you for your injury. Or, to deflate any potential guilt trips, just turn your gun on yourself instead. That'll show 'em.

When Unexplained Disaster Strikes, Try to Figure Out What Lesson is Being Taught, or It Turns Out the World Actually Does Revolve Around You

Once MacLachlan places his trust in the innate goodness of another human being, despite the film showing nothing but the opposite to be true of society as a whole, the blackout ends. Yes, the world often screws with everyone else on Earth just to teach a meager lesson to one person.

Non-Elisabeth Shue Film Application When facing a large-scale disaster, natural or otherwise, assume it's directed at you and quickly work to correct whatever the world wants you to fix.

Ex. 1 Tornado totals your house. Call your mother more often.
Ex. 2 Hurricane strikes your neighborhood. Reconsider your poor recycling habits.
Ex. 3 Earthquake hits your city. Karmic payback for that time you stole a pack of Juicy Fruit[2] from the checkout line at the grocery store


[Note 1]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. Originally, it linked to an older upload, but that video is no longer in effect.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Falling Down is a 1993 drama film starring Michael Douglas as a divorced, unemployed defense worker who embarks on a violent journey of self-discovery while struggling with his mental stability.
  2. A gum brand.