This teenage slasher spoof was extremely fun!
The main character Callee was nothing like I've seen before.
Loved the low budget feel to this movie and it has the right amount of bloodshed!
I personally loved the twist in this film as well that came into place around the end.
Amanda Wyss was very good in this too!
People say that the killer's mask and outfit was cheap and tacky, but for a satire it fit perfectly.
Honestly not a bad teenage slice n dice em' flick either. Highly recommend!!
19 Reviews
Triggered
BandSAboutMovies26 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Callee Bishop is a social justice warrior who hates her hometown, which is filled with bigotry and small minds. A killer from the past comes back and starts murdering her classmates and when Callee accidentally kills someone and needs to cover it up, she puts herself in even more danger from the real serial killer. That said - is Callee the real villain?
This film is somewhere between a comedy and a slasher. Major points go to casting Amanda Wyss (Beth from Better Off Dead and Tina from A Nightmare on Elm Street) as the principal, who is still recovering from being attacked by the killer years before.
Triggered seems like the natural next step from Scream, in that it's a movie that takes modern communication and politics and infuses them into the slasher genre.
This film is somewhere between a comedy and a slasher. Major points go to casting Amanda Wyss (Beth from Better Off Dead and Tina from A Nightmare on Elm Street) as the principal, who is still recovering from being attacked by the killer years before.
Triggered seems like the natural next step from Scream, in that it's a movie that takes modern communication and politics and infuses them into the slasher genre.
Seriously
bbates0245 October 2020
The fact this movies actually has award nominations, and wins listed just shows you how much money has to do with results.
I'm not even sure you can call this a movie. It's like a couple kid got together on the weekend and said let's write a movie and film it on phones in two days. The movie is that bad. Spent most of it in fast-forward, and then gave up about half way through.
You know a movie is bad when you can't even put it on in the background while doing other things.
I'm not even sure you can call this a movie. It's like a couple kid got together on the weekend and said let's write a movie and film it on phones in two days. The movie is that bad. Spent most of it in fast-forward, and then gave up about half way through.
You know a movie is bad when you can't even put it on in the background while doing other things.
Started off funny...
daillstate5 October 2020
... Went downhill with that bedroom scene. I think I'm some people's minds, jocks are closet people. This was a fun movie that I was gonna tell people about. But that bedroom thing is Hollywood lately. I just fast forward that crap.
Utter garbage
tattooedshortstop22 October 2021
I can only assume that the high votes have to be people that were involved in the making of this "movie". This movie is trash. I don't know how crap like this gets funding. Everyone involved with this garbage should be banned from ever working in Hollywood again.
"Be Gone, Banana Republic@*t"
tildagravette12 July 2019
There's an insanely brash and annoying teenager named Callee who only has one friend - a shy gay guy named Ian who's latched onto her because he doesn't see any better options in their backwoods town. Though she has no talents to speak of, Callee wants to be special more than anything else in the world and when a serial killer comes into the picture, she takes a break from screaming at her classmates (and teachers) about various forms of perceived bigotry and decides that pretending to be one of the killer's latest victims is a better way to get her dream.
While borrowing from several teen movie cliches (Heathers, Scream, Jawbreaker, and Female Trouble came to mind a few times while watching it), Triggered creates something unique and unlike anything I've ever seen. The character of Callee is so disgustingly unlikable from the first few lines out of her mouth that you just want to punch her and, yet, Meredith Mohler's performance (while occasionally over the top) is grounded in what seems like real human pain. Jesse Dalton is equally wonderful as Ian and he's very much the eyes and ears of the audience throughout. Amanda Wyss shows up in what, at first, seems like a glorified cameo, but she ends up featuring much more heavily in the film than I was initially expecting which was a very pleasant surprise and she gets a few wonderful moments (including a moving/hilarious bit where she's telling Callee about the worst year of her life as Callee scrolls through her phone, not caring).
The comedy and drama sometimes play better than the slasher/horror aspect (though, I did jump a few times and I rarely ever do that), but the film never bored me and I was always totally invested in the story. I'd recommend it.
While borrowing from several teen movie cliches (Heathers, Scream, Jawbreaker, and Female Trouble came to mind a few times while watching it), Triggered creates something unique and unlike anything I've ever seen. The character of Callee is so disgustingly unlikable from the first few lines out of her mouth that you just want to punch her and, yet, Meredith Mohler's performance (while occasionally over the top) is grounded in what seems like real human pain. Jesse Dalton is equally wonderful as Ian and he's very much the eyes and ears of the audience throughout. Amanda Wyss shows up in what, at first, seems like a glorified cameo, but she ends up featuring much more heavily in the film than I was initially expecting which was a very pleasant surprise and she gets a few wonderful moments (including a moving/hilarious bit where she's telling Callee about the worst year of her life as Callee scrolls through her phone, not caring).
The comedy and drama sometimes play better than the slasher/horror aspect (though, I did jump a few times and I rarely ever do that), but the film never bored me and I was always totally invested in the story. I'd recommend it.
Enjoyable if flawed modern take on the slasher
kannibalcorpsegrinder2 June 2020
Following a series of brutal murders, a teen fighting for equality in her small-town of perceived bigotry with her friend finds the perfect opportunity to take credit for the work of a psychotic killer around town, but when the real killer targets her she finds herself forced into an unwinnable position to get away alive.
This was a decent enough if problematic genre effort. What manages to hold this one up are the few-and-far-between notions of this one being a straightforward, simplistic slasher effort. The attacks here are quite fun, with the initial ambush on the gay couple around their house by striking the straggler first before launching a more sustained strike against the others inside is a great start to this one as the flickering lights create a sense of tension that's helped along by the paranoia about the killer potentially around and the slow walk-through of the house that features several shocking and gruesome kills that are integrated nicely alongside the attempts to fight back. The shorter ambushes against her friends and other co-workers in town are just as enjoyable with the shock attacks and generally brutal kills that arise out of it generate some tense moments as well. Combined with the final girl role-reversal twist present, these hold this one up overall although the film is held down by several factors. The biggest issue is the absolutely troublesome and utterly infuriating main lead who manages to make this one next to impossible to get behind in the early stages of the film. An aggressive, controversial busy-body in the cliched notion of every social-justice-warrior who believes she has to fight for people that have no voice when they're too blinded by the notion of joining a cause to realize that they're fighting for issues that aren't important to the people she's fighting for, the main lead is a bit much for some to take.as these seem to be her only qualities. The change into being a crazed, attention-seeking hypocrite that changes her appearance into a more feminine and attractive while forgetting her entire moral crusade just because she's getting attention is believable and rather enjoyable here since it comes about as a result of what she wanted the whole time and completing the hypocrite circle she started. As well, there's also the film's egregious and unnecessary overlong running time. There's no need for the film to go on just shy of two hours as too much here doesn't need to be shown. Not only are the constant attempts at getting equality for others or talking down to everyone else around here annoying and troublesome, the random incidents of the couple going around the town trying to find new things to inspire outrage about what's going on in the town don't have much interest going on. With visits to a brothel, constant iterations of social media pandering that comes about after she gets attacked and survives to the pointless interrogation scenes between her and the authority figures in her life, there's almost nothing here about the random killer striking until so late in the film that it feels quite underwhelming when it finally becomes more prominent after not being a part of this for so long instead of this other build-up. Otherwise, this one isn't too bad.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Male Nudity and a sex scene.
This was a decent enough if problematic genre effort. What manages to hold this one up are the few-and-far-between notions of this one being a straightforward, simplistic slasher effort. The attacks here are quite fun, with the initial ambush on the gay couple around their house by striking the straggler first before launching a more sustained strike against the others inside is a great start to this one as the flickering lights create a sense of tension that's helped along by the paranoia about the killer potentially around and the slow walk-through of the house that features several shocking and gruesome kills that are integrated nicely alongside the attempts to fight back. The shorter ambushes against her friends and other co-workers in town are just as enjoyable with the shock attacks and generally brutal kills that arise out of it generate some tense moments as well. Combined with the final girl role-reversal twist present, these hold this one up overall although the film is held down by several factors. The biggest issue is the absolutely troublesome and utterly infuriating main lead who manages to make this one next to impossible to get behind in the early stages of the film. An aggressive, controversial busy-body in the cliched notion of every social-justice-warrior who believes she has to fight for people that have no voice when they're too blinded by the notion of joining a cause to realize that they're fighting for issues that aren't important to the people she's fighting for, the main lead is a bit much for some to take.as these seem to be her only qualities. The change into being a crazed, attention-seeking hypocrite that changes her appearance into a more feminine and attractive while forgetting her entire moral crusade just because she's getting attention is believable and rather enjoyable here since it comes about as a result of what she wanted the whole time and completing the hypocrite circle she started. As well, there's also the film's egregious and unnecessary overlong running time. There's no need for the film to go on just shy of two hours as too much here doesn't need to be shown. Not only are the constant attempts at getting equality for others or talking down to everyone else around here annoying and troublesome, the random incidents of the couple going around the town trying to find new things to inspire outrage about what's going on in the town don't have much interest going on. With visits to a brothel, constant iterations of social media pandering that comes about after she gets attacked and survives to the pointless interrogation scenes between her and the authority figures in her life, there's almost nothing here about the random killer striking until so late in the film that it feels quite underwhelming when it finally becomes more prominent after not being a part of this for so long instead of this other build-up. Otherwise, this one isn't too bad.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Male Nudity and a sex scene.
What the actual ....
chanin-546163 August 2020
Ok i get this is satire and that the main girl is supposed to be annoying, but my GOD is she annoying. And not in a funny or cute way like I want to keep watching to see what happens. More like I want to punch her in the face. 35 minutes in and all it has been is her complaining about everything to everyone. But I managed to finish it. Horrific, over the top acting matched with terrible dialogue made for a tough watch. Do people actually enjoy this kind of crap?
Enjoyable Slasher Satire
annablair-1919111 July 2019
Callee is your average white, straight, cis-gender teenager and she's not too thrilled about it. In an effort to stand out, she's pretended to be British, a lesbian, and, now, she's taken up social justice causes. Due to her abrasive personality, she only has one friend - a gay kid named Ian who's already getting a bit weary of her theatrics himself. When a famed local serial killer resurfaces after 30 years, Callee uses this opportunity to fake an attack as an attempt to get the attention she so desperately craves, but she'll soon find out that this will come with a steep price.
Triggered is never what you think it's going to be. From the posters and trailers, I had assumed it would be the story of some wacky social justice warrior punishing everyone she disagrees with politically (like a revamped Serial Mom), but Triggered doesn't take the obvious route and is, instead, more of a satire on toxic friendships and the need for everyone to be noticed.
The performances are strong all across the board with special mentions going to Meredith Mohler, Jesse Dalton, and Amanda Wyss who get the best material to work with even if Keni Bounds threatens to steal the entire film every time she shows up as Callee's lush of a mother. The script is solid with some really great bits of dialogue, some good twists, and a surprising amount of dramatic heft when called for. The film does wear its budget on its sleeve at some points, but I was never taken out of the film. If I had a complaint, it's that some of the horror/slasher elements feel underbaked and take a backseat to the comedy and friendship drama.
I doubt Triggered will suit everyone's taste, but it's worth giving a shot if you like movies like Heathers, Jawbreaker, or Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Triggered is never what you think it's going to be. From the posters and trailers, I had assumed it would be the story of some wacky social justice warrior punishing everyone she disagrees with politically (like a revamped Serial Mom), but Triggered doesn't take the obvious route and is, instead, more of a satire on toxic friendships and the need for everyone to be noticed.
The performances are strong all across the board with special mentions going to Meredith Mohler, Jesse Dalton, and Amanda Wyss who get the best material to work with even if Keni Bounds threatens to steal the entire film every time she shows up as Callee's lush of a mother. The script is solid with some really great bits of dialogue, some good twists, and a surprising amount of dramatic heft when called for. The film does wear its budget on its sleeve at some points, but I was never taken out of the film. If I had a complaint, it's that some of the horror/slasher elements feel underbaked and take a backseat to the comedy and friendship drama.
I doubt Triggered will suit everyone's taste, but it's worth giving a shot if you like movies like Heathers, Jawbreaker, or Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Ignore chanin
jgkelley-4879724 September 2020
I wanna punch her in the face after listening to that girl ramble about another girl. What an annoying review complaining about the actor who wasn't even that bad. These movie is aight and I'm had some moments. The other reviews more accurate, I'm telling you any time you see a 1 rating ignore it. No thought went into it. Well no serious thought, just drivel
Couldn't even get through the trailer
mt-381696 October 2020
Great popcorn movie
InfiniteGrant20 September 2019
This movie is just all around fun. It takes a dash of the slasher flick and mixes in a big helping of modern day relevance. Mohler's acting is superb and Dalton does a great job. Definitely great for a Saturday night with some popcorn.
This Was Fun
alexandersbrown9 August 2020
Very Well Polished and Entertaining Film!!!
synstar19 July 2020
From Beginning to End this film had my attention!!! Normal I do not care for New Horror Movies, But This One is a Rare Gem! The plot of the film is very original and did not try to be a carbon copy of the golden age of the slashers! The actors are amazing and fully embodied their roles!!! I will be telling all my friends about this film!! LoVE It!!!!
Frequently Hilarious
deandraslater29 November 2019
If Todd Solondz and John Waters were given $15 to make a movie and decided to do a slasher flick with some of the most bizarre and borderline unlikable characters I've ever seen, it might look and sound something like this. I'm going to need a whole spin off movie with Callee's weirdo mother. She's the one of the strangest slasher film characters since Aunt Martha in Sleepaway Camp.
She Just Wanted To Be Special
angelakenney-5298224 July 2019
Triggered has what is, quite possibly, the most loathesome character I've ever seen on screen. Her name is Callee and all she does is complain about (mostly) made up bigotry and intolerance. She seems to think that being a crusader for social justice only entails following the most ridiculous of the far left on Twitter and shaming anyone who doesn't prescribe to her narrow vision of what's right and what's wrong. This gets her a decent amount of attention at her small town high school for a while until a serial killer from the past shows back up and she has to figure out another way to get attention even if it means murder.
You have to give actress Meredith Mohler and writer/director Chris Moore a hand for daring to create such a narcissistic and selfish character and placing her as the lead in a film. It's to their credit that she remains watchable and interesting even when she's doing the most wicked of things. If Mohler plays her cards right, I could see her having a big future.
The rest of the cast is good as well, but they're given less to work with and can come across more like cartoons, which does fit with the tone of the film, so that's not really a negative. The only ones who get fully fleshed out characters are Jesse Dalton and Amanda Wyss who play Callee's long-suffering gay BFF and her alcoholic school principal with a dark past of her own. They're the only two truly sympathetic characters in the film and they do a wonderful job of grounding the film when it starts getting crazy.
The film was obviously made for about 3 cents, but this is one of those times when a low budget helps a film and gives it an unpolished early John Waters feel which seems to be what the creators are going for and, more often than not, they succeed. There's also a surprising amount of male nudity instead of the typical female nudity found in films like this and it's also a positive portrait of a gay teen that's not the usual coming out story or bullying story.
You have to give actress Meredith Mohler and writer/director Chris Moore a hand for daring to create such a narcissistic and selfish character and placing her as the lead in a film. It's to their credit that she remains watchable and interesting even when she's doing the most wicked of things. If Mohler plays her cards right, I could see her having a big future.
The rest of the cast is good as well, but they're given less to work with and can come across more like cartoons, which does fit with the tone of the film, so that's not really a negative. The only ones who get fully fleshed out characters are Jesse Dalton and Amanda Wyss who play Callee's long-suffering gay BFF and her alcoholic school principal with a dark past of her own. They're the only two truly sympathetic characters in the film and they do a wonderful job of grounding the film when it starts getting crazy.
The film was obviously made for about 3 cents, but this is one of those times when a low budget helps a film and gives it an unpolished early John Waters feel which seems to be what the creators are going for and, more often than not, they succeed. There's also a surprising amount of male nudity instead of the typical female nudity found in films like this and it's also a positive portrait of a gay teen that's not the usual coming out story or bullying story.
A slasher like I've never seen before
selfdestructo21 December 2021
I suppose this is the right time and place for a movie like this. Callee is an "extreme" social justice warrior, who accidentally kills a rival in the ladies bathroom at school. Her hometown has a history with a serial killer, and Callee and her best friend Ian decide to stage a mock home invasion to make it look like they were all attacked. This seemingly draws the attention of the real killer.
I think this filmmaker intended to make Callee as unlikeable and (reverse??) offensive as possible. Triggered is an apt title, as anything and everything triggers her as an offense on her morals. And she lets everone know! Problem is, the stuff they've given her to say is so outrageous and funny, AND she is played over-the-top and to a "T" by Merideth Mohler, that I could not help but fall in love with this character. Oh, she is also callous (funny, huh?), antisocial, and self-absorbed. There is a great scene in a diner where her put-upon (by Callee!) principal sits down with her to try to make a connection, and she shares a story of survival, describing the worst day of her life... while Callee tools around on her phone. Her mom was the icing on the cake, as a forgotten B-movie scream queen.
A few things in this movie I didn't think worked, or at least weren't explored properly, but overall for a no budget comedy/slasher that runs a little long (though I wasn't bored or checking the time, it's an hour and 45 well spent), Triggered is pretty strong. Everything connects in the end.
Check out the DVD deleted scenes (42 mins). There is some entertaining stuff in there that would never fit in the film, like it was just done for fun. The final 10 minutes is all bloopers, but not labeled as such. Beware of the back cover! There are spoilers and inaccuracies.
I think this filmmaker intended to make Callee as unlikeable and (reverse??) offensive as possible. Triggered is an apt title, as anything and everything triggers her as an offense on her morals. And she lets everone know! Problem is, the stuff they've given her to say is so outrageous and funny, AND she is played over-the-top and to a "T" by Merideth Mohler, that I could not help but fall in love with this character. Oh, she is also callous (funny, huh?), antisocial, and self-absorbed. There is a great scene in a diner where her put-upon (by Callee!) principal sits down with her to try to make a connection, and she shares a story of survival, describing the worst day of her life... while Callee tools around on her phone. Her mom was the icing on the cake, as a forgotten B-movie scream queen.
A few things in this movie I didn't think worked, or at least weren't explored properly, but overall for a no budget comedy/slasher that runs a little long (though I wasn't bored or checking the time, it's an hour and 45 well spent), Triggered is pretty strong. Everything connects in the end.
Check out the DVD deleted scenes (42 mins). There is some entertaining stuff in there that would never fit in the film, like it was just done for fun. The final 10 minutes is all bloopers, but not labeled as such. Beware of the back cover! There are spoilers and inaccuracies.
Enjoyable slasher
echoevans-7607211 March 2024
This is an enjoyable indie horror movie. If you enjoy grind house horror check it out. Don't expect a Hollywood blockbuster, it's very evident that this movie had a small budget. The script is original and has some great one liners and the acting is good for a low budget movie. Enjoyed seeing Amanda Wyss in the role of the high school principal. Meredith Mohler and Jesse Dalton do a good job of playing the two leads, and Kenni Bounds is a gas as the over the top former scream queen that is the lead characters mom. The kills are fun and story is timely. Check it out if you like indie horror!!!!
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