Silent Trigger (1996)

Sadly Over-hyped

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Dolph Lundgren's 1996 vehicle here is a pretty unique production. A 90s action-thriller with heavy existentialist aspirations, the feature manages to attain most of its ambitions via the surprisingly careful touch of director Russell Mulcahy. It's got some problems that threaten my rating and may limit it to a niche audience, but for the most part, this is a successful experiment the likes of which Lundgren has yet to reproduce.The story: A mysterious sniper (Lundgren) and his spotter (Gina Bellman) face a series of internal and external threats as they prepare to eliminate a target from an unfinished high-rise building.From a thematic standpoint, this is an extremely ambitious effort for an action movie starring a performer best known for punching people. The first time I saw it, I thought of how easily this could have been turned into a play. There are only four prominent cast members, all generally inhabiting a single location, and there is an emphasis on character scenes with few action highlights. Sergio Altieri's screenplay mixes a typical action premise with heavy doses of noir and a touch of absurdity, creating a micro-world wherein alien codes of conduct are natural and the namelessness of characters is taken for granted. Though Russell Mulcahy can be a heavy-handed director, he's very in tune with Altieri's story and manages to create a tense, intimate atmosphere that's oftentimes more chilling than his attempts at horror have been. There are some lapses and excesses to this moody atmosphere, but for the most part, the filmmakers are very successful at striking the tone they want.The one major qualm I personally have with the picture is its treatment of Gina Bellman's character, which makes painfully clear that this is a movie written by men and for men. Bellman's talent shines through even in the most indignant of situations, but aside from the usual tropes of turning a highly-trained female operative into a damsel and a random sex scene, it's a challenge to find any statements or actions the character makes that aren't in some way critiqued by her male counterparts.The action content is measured. It's pretty sparse, but what's there tends to adrenalize. The worst of these scenes is the single brawl that Lundgren had with sadistic coke-fiend Christopher Heyerdahl, but the best scenes involve the use of Lundgren's unique sniper rifle. Two major shootouts compose the highlights of the action, and Lundgren's weapon of choice – with its immensely powerful bullets but agonizingly slow rate of fire – gives these scenes a unique pace that you don't get when both sides of a firefight are blazing away with automatic weapons. The uneven nature of these gunfights, combined with their infrequency, may understandably leave some action fans unfulfilled, particularly if the story is not to their liking either. Essentially, this is an action movie that asks you to take a chance on something other than the strength of its action, and if you'd rather spend your time on less of a gamble, Lundgren has an entire library of other flicks to check out.Personally, I had a good time with this one. The fact that the star has not attempted to make another film along these lines is a little disappointing, since Lundgren does well with the minimalist touch. Nevertheless, this helps make SILENT TRIGGER something of a hidden gem, and if nothing else, the strength of its production places it on the list of high-end offerings among Lundgren's non-theatrical features.

Ohh… This movie is special. I mean, when it ended I felt almost like characters in the movie. Maybe it is just me, but watching this movie takes me on the other side of the screen. Maybe people who designed the sets knew something many people don't, maybe the architecture was simple and realistic so it was easier to identify with it, maybe composer did something unorthodox, or was there any music at all?... maybe I was in a special mood, I don't know! But what I do know, is that despite being a quite generic action movie (hits almost everything in the cliché check-list) it has some amazing atmosphere which actually works fantastic with such special kind of acting (phlegmatic I would say) and some weird-cheap special effects. But overall, it is enjoyable and I recommend you watch it and I recommend you do it alone, for perfect experience.

OK normally i wouldn't bother commenting on a movie like this, but honestly, what is with the good reviews for it?! So yeah, this is possibly one of the worst films ever made. I watched it late at night with some friends at a sleepover, and as one pointed out, the plot sounded like it was made up by a 6-year-old. The one liners had the so-bad-its-funny feel. And i wonder how desperate Gina Bellmen was for work before she went on Coupling. And Dolph Lundgren....i don't know why anyone ever let him near a film set!Basically, unless you want to laugh yourself senseless at the stupidity of the plot and how little sense it makes, AVOID.

He is calm, silent and deadly. His bullet can hit you from distance of 2 kilometers. This time Dolph holds in his hands a new tool of destruction – a sniper. He works as political assassin, but he doesn't want to kill any more. They sent him to his last mission into the great designed building with a girl who is his assistant (Bellman). While they make preparations, we watch many flash-backs related to their common past and targets from many years ago. They don't know that whole this job is just a trap to eliminate them both. Director of "Highlander" and "Shadow", Russell Mulcahy, brought you another hit. Claustophobic, strong and dramatic, this film really makes you think. Dolph also provided you with fantastic action scenes that will take your breath away. Gina Bellman – always pleasant to look at. The film that is going to become an important part of your personal collection.