The Trigger Effect (1996)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

David Koepp

Writers (WGA):

James Burke (television series Connections)
David Koepp (written by)

Release Date:

30 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When Nothing Works, Anything Goes.

Plot:

How tenuous is man's hold on civilization when survival becomes an issue? When the lights go out and stay out for several days...

Plot Keywords:

House | Neighbor | Burglar | Female Nudity | Gun

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan	...	Matthew
Elisabeth Shue	...	Annie Kay
Dermot Mulroney	...	Joe
Richard T. Jones	...	Raymond
Bill Smitrovich	...	Steph
Michael Rooker	...	Gary
Tori Kristiansen	...	Sarah
Tyra Kristiansen	...	Sarah
Rick Worthy	...	Johnny
Edhem Barker	...	Trendy German Guy
Tyrone Tann	...	Tripping Guy
David O'Donnell	...	Hand Holding Guy
Monica Torres	...	Hand Holding Girl
Greg Grunberg	...	Double Date Guy
Kerri Vickers	...	Double Date Girl
Christina Alvarado	...	Counter Girl #1
Victoria Fleming	...	Counter Girl #2
Molly Morgan	...	Babysitter
Philip Bruns	...	Mr. Schaefer
Kirk Fox	...	Drugstore Announcer
William Lucking	...	Pharmacist
Rosanna Huffman	...	Arguing Customer
Andy Walker	...	Ball Bouncer
Carl Ciarfalio	...	Security Guard
Wanda-Lee Evans	...	Admitting Nurse
Richard Schiff	...	Gun Shop Clerk
Jack Noseworthy	...	Prowler
Shishir Kurup	...	Raji
Gary Bayer	...	Middle Aged Neighbor
Conor O'Farrell	...	Police Officer #1
Eugene Collier	...	Police Officer #2
Devoy White	...	Waiter
Amanda Grillo	...	Girl at Ice Cream Truck
Parker Swanson	...	Medic
Jonathan Mumm	...	Man at Table
Elizabeth Gandy	...	Cafe Waitress
Dorian Dunbar	...	Kari
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rick Robinson Jr.	...	Paramedic (uncredited)

Directed by
David Koepp

Writing credits (WGA)
James Burke		(television series Connections)
David Koepp		(written by)

Produced by
Fernando Altschul	....	associate producer
Michael Grillo	....	producer
Laurie MacDonald	....	executive producer
Gerald R. Molen	....	executive producer
Walter F. Parkes	....	executive producer (as Walter Parkes)
Michele Weisler	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Newton Thomas Sigel

Film Editing by
Jill Savitt

Casting by
Nancy Nayor

Production Design by
Howard Cummings

Art Direction by
Jeff Knipp

Set Decoration by
Larry Dias

Costume Design by
Dana Allyson

Makeup Department
Kathrine Gordon	....	key hair stylist
Desne J. Holland	....	key makeup artist (as Desne Holland)
Tracey Levy	....	makeup artist
Janine Rath	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Martin Cohen	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Grillo	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fernando Altschul	....	first assistant director
Paula Case	....	dga trainee
Kelly Kiernan	....	second assistant director
Christina Stauffer	....	second second assistant director (as Christina J. Stauffer)

Art Department
Shelly Adajian-Hill	....	painter
Michael Alvarado	....	plasterer
Peter Borck	....	lead man
Adam Braid	....	props swing gang
Joseph Braus	....	propmaker
Juan Andrés Bueno	....	art department production assistant
Chris Call	....	property master
Jerry Carr	....	painter
David Chiavoni	....	labor foreman
Don 'Tex' Clark	....	set dresser
John Coven	....	storyboard artist
Doug Crawford	....	propmaker
Pat DiGiulo	....	laborer
Edward A. Giron	....	labor gang boss
Joseph A. Graber	....	propmaker
Joseph W. Grafmuller	....	props swing gang
Charles Grimm	....	art department production assistant
Steve A. Hagberg	....	construction coordinator (as Steve Hagberg)
Hugh Hanna	....	propmaker foreman
Damon Hight	....	propmaker
Johnmichael Hull	....	painter
China Iwata	....	art department coordinator
Maria Jaramillo	....	paint foreman (as Maria M. Jaramillo)
Mauricio Jimenez	....	propmaker
Scott G. Jones	....	props swing gang
Ken Junod	....	propmaker
Michael Larkins	....	property maker
Esteban J. Lascarez	....	propmaker
Hans Laudermilk	....	propmaker (as Hans Loudermilk)
Randlett King Lawrence	....	general foreman
David B. Long	....	propmaker foreman
Mursalin Machado	....	painter
Kevin Mangan	....	greensman
Frank McEldowney	....	greensperson
Karin L. McGaughey	....	props swing gang (as Karin McGaughey)
Johnny Morales	....	laborer
Nikolas Pecci	....	propmaker
John A. Rainieri III	....	propmaker
Michael Rixon	....	props swing gang (as Michael K. Rixon)
Lori Rowbotham	....	set designer
Jerry Sargent	....	propmaker (as Jerry L. Sargent)
Phillip Schneider	....	head paint foreman
Liz Shaner	....	painter
Doug Sieck	....	props swing gang (as Douglas D. Sieck)
Parker Swanson	....	assistant props
Kelly Thompson	....	painter
Anthony Vitagliano	....	greensman
Michael P. Weller	....	propmaker
Jeffrey Whitman	....	propmaker (as Jeff Whitman)
Helen Wilson	....	draper
Eric Wortmann	....	painter

Sound Department
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor
Jeff Clark	....	sound editor
Linda Davies	....	supervising adr editor
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Jerry Edemann	....	assistant sound editor
Louis L. Edemann	....	supervising sound editor
Ronald Eng	....	sound editor (as Ron Eng)
Bryan Fowler	....	sound re-recordist (as Brian Fowler)
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound editor (as Rick Franklin)
Leonard T. Geschke	....	sound editor (as Leonard Geschke)
Ann Hadsell	....	adr recordist (as Ann L. Hadsell)
Ann Hadsell	....	foley recordist (as Ann L. Hadsell)
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Jim Hill	....	additional sound recordist
Donald J. Malouf	....	sound editor (as Don Malouf)
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rudy Pi	....	sound re-recordist
John Pritchett	....	production sound mixer
Rocky Quiroz	....	cable person
David M. Roberts	....	boom operator
Larry Singer	....	supervising adr editor
Philip J. Slattery	....	assistant sound editor (as Philip Slattery)

Special Effects by
Bruce Mattox	....	special effects
Larry Roberts	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Caitlin Content	....	sabre compositing artist
Stefen Fangmeier	....	visual effects supervisor
Mark Holmes	....	sabre compositing artist
Paul Huston	....	digital matte artist
Jeanmarie King	....	visual effects coordinator
Bruce Vecchitto	....	digital timing supervisor (as Bruce Vecchito)

Stunts
Bobby Burns	....	stunts
Doc Elliot	....	stunts
Gordon Hansen	....	stunts
Rosine 'Ace' Hatem	....	stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts (as Brett Jones)
Tim Meredith	....	stunts (as Tim C. Meredith)
Erik Stabenau	....	stunts
Patrick J. Statham	....	stunts (as Pat Statham)
Merritt Yohnka	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen B. Abrams	....	grip
Robert Anzures	....	key rigging grip
Nick Arnds	....	grip (as Nick Arnds IV)
David Brown	....	dolly grip
Derlin Brynford-Jones	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant camera
Nina Chien	....	camera production assistant
Marc J. Coyne	....	camera loader
Mark J. Coyne	....	assistant camera
Joseph Dianda	....	key grip
Shawn Ensign	....	grip (as R. Shawn Ensign)
Erik A. Erichsen	....	lamp operator
Jerome Fauci	....	Steadicam operator
Glenn Fishel	....	grip: Sacramento
Keith Gorman	....	lamp operator (as Keith F. Gorman)
John M. Kelly	....	lamp operator: Sacramento
Glade Knight	....	rigging gaffer
Kurt A. Lehr	....	lamp operator: Sacramento
Scott Mauricio	....	lamp operator: Sacramento (as Scott F. Mauricio)
William J. McDevitt	....	grip (as William McDevitt)
Anthony G. Nakonechnyj	....	chief lighting technician
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Anne Owens	....	lamp operator: Sacramento
Scott Patten	....	best boy grip
Jim Pisano	....	grip: Sacramento
R. Bruce Prochal	....	rigging gaffer (as Robert Bruce Prochal)
Stephen Sharp	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Keith L. Smith	....	second assistant camera
Stephen Thorp	....	lamp operator
O'Shana Walker	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
Carissa Blix	....	casting: Sacramento
Everett Blix	....	casting: Sacramento
Joanna Colbert	....	casting associate
Debbie DeRango	....	casting associate
Tony Hobbs	....	extras casting
Terry L. Lamfers	....	casting administrator
Mickie McGowan	....	adr voice casting (as Mickie T. McGowan)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	set costumer
Lynette Bernay	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Lynn Bernay)
Maurizio Bizzarri	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Angela Barton	....	apprentice film editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Daniel Craven	....	first assistant film editor
Erica Frauman	....	post-production coordinator
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Tim Wilson	....	first assistant film editor
David Young	....	apprentice film editor

Music Department
Andy Bass	....	scoring crew
Greg De Belles	....	composer: additional music
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Marc Gebauer	....	scoring crew
James Newton Howard	....	orchestrator
Artie Kane	....	conductor
David Marquette	....	scoring crew
Michael Mason	....	score co-producer
Shawn Murphy	....	music recordist
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
David Olson	....	assistant music editor
Jay Selvester	....	scoring crew
Kirsten Smith	....	scoring crew
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Jim Weidman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Michael Antunez	....	transportation captain (as David Michael Antunez)
Leo Baker	....	driver
William Ballard	....	driver (as William K. Ballard)
Michael W. Broomer	....	driver
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator
Tino Caira	....	driver (as Talentino Caira)
Eddie A. Canett	....	driver
Wallace Galenn Frick Jr.	....	driver (as Wallace G. Frick)
Gary Kincaid	....	driver
Marc Lebeaune	....	driver (as Marc Labeaune)
Steve Luce	....	driver (as Stephen Luce)
David Menapace	....	driver (as David A. Menapace)
Robert Neal	....	driver (as Robert Allen Neal)
Richard Padgett	....	driver (as Rick Padgett)
George Power	....	driver
Steve Sorkin	....	driver
Ronald Stinton	....	driver (as Ronald J. Stinton)
Wilbert Tolliver	....	driver (as Wilbert L. Tolliver)
Fred Turner	....	driver
Terry Van Bebber	....	driver
Mark Wescott	....	driver

Other crew
Jennifer A. Blum	....	assistant: Ms. Shue
Brett Boydstun	....	production assistant (as Brett A. Boydstun)
Bobby Bress	....	assistant: Mr. MacLachlan
Rodger Bumpass	....	adr loop group
Mark Chambers	....	set medic
Robert Clotworthy	....	adr loop group
Winburn F. Craft III	....	office production assistant: Sacramento
Jennifer Darling	....	adr loop group
Burr DeBenning	....	adr loop group
Chad DeCinces	....	assistant: James Newton Howard
Debi Derryberry	....	adr loop group
Maria DeVane	....	post-production accountant
Brady Doyle	....	production assistant
Therese Nichelle Dugan	....	office production assistant: Sacramento
Linda Emmons-Cunningham	....	assistant production coordinator: Sacramento
Donald Fullilove	....	adr loop group
Jane Goe	....	production controller: Amblin
René González	....	projectionist: Amblin (as René Gonzalez)
Richard Grant	....	auricle control systems
Elena Holden	....	production accountant (as Elena Holden Bress)
David Israel	....	location manager
Joy Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Parkes
Mark Benton Johnson	....	assistant location manager
Mick Jones	....	adr loop group
Kelley A. Kiernan	....	production office assistant
Linda Kroll	....	assistant: Ms. Macdonald
Mark A. Kurtz	....	production office assistant (as Mark Allen Kurtz)
Don Levy	....	unit publicist
James Linville	....	assistant production accountant
Anne Lockhart	....	adr loop group
Emily Love	....	stand-in
Amy Lyne	....	production assistant
Sherry Lynn	....	adr loop group
Janice Naehu	....	assistant: Mr. Koepp
Diane H. Newman	....	script supervisor (as Diane Hassinger Newman)
Robert Ohlandt	....	production assistant
James Panger	....	studio teacher
Jennifer Nichole Porter	....	production coordinator (as Jennifer Porter)
Phil Proctor	....	adr loop group
Gianna Rubin	....	assistant production coordinator
Diana Tinkley	....	assistant: Mr. Molen
Marcelo Tubert	....	adr loop group
Jim Turner	....	production controller (as James Turner)
Michael Turner	....	production assistant
Barbara Tuss	....	script supervisor (as Barbara E. Tuss)
John 'Magic' Wright	....	craft service
Paul O. Wright	....	craft service (as Paul 'Rainmaker' Wright)

Production Companies

• Amblin Entertainment
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema International (1997) (Netherlands) (video)
• Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (video)
• Gramercy Pictures (I)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (digital matte painting)

Other Companies

• Boone's Animals for Hollywood  animal training
• Bruce Loeb Security Inc.  security
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Media Casting  casting: Sacramento
• Pacific Title  titles
• Pacific Titles & Optical  opticals
• Playback Technologies  24-frame video
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  catering
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  music recording
• Todd-AO Studios  re-recording

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:U | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Alamitos, California, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The story is inspired by the classic "The Twilight Zone" (1959) episode "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street," which depicts the denizens of the street slowly becoming crazy after a power failure. In fact, in the film's production notes, Matthew and Annie live on the corner of Maple and Willoughby (another classic TZ episode, "A Stop At Willoughby"), obvious allusions to "The Twilight Zone".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: While walking up the driveway at the very end, the Steadicam operator and the boom operator are clearly visible in a reflection from the Volvo's trunk lid.

Quotes:

Joe: The Martians have landed. They want our women.

Movie Connections:

Features Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Soundtrack:

Danger Tension

One of the worst movies I've seen...

There are few things I hate more than being beaten over the head with the message a movie is trying to get across. The creators obviously became so wrapped up in conveying an interesting theme that they forgot about the importance of the other aspects of a good movie (character development, action, a PLOT)...This had potential- good actors, rising tension (in the beginning) and an interesting situation to be delt with. However, it soon became a downward spiral of events that were unbelievable and unoriginal. It became downright silly. The ending was so contrived it made me laugh. Even the acting didn't save this- I didn't care about these characters or what happened to them. This one will be *remembered?* as a movie that had potential but was unable to deliver.