The Trigger Effect

The Trigger Effect is a 1996 American thriller film written and directed by David Koepp (in his feature directorial debut) and starring Kyle MacLachlan, Elisabeth Shue and Dermot Mulroney. It is the only Amblin Entertainment film to be distributed by Gramercy Pictures. The film follows the downward spiral of society during a widespread and lengthy power outage in Southern California. The film was inspired by the 1978 documentary television series Connections, and the 1960 The Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street", which starred Koepp's uncle, actor Claude Akins. The Trigger Effect explores the idea that a simple power outage can potentially trigger a chain of largely unfavorable events, implying that modern society cannot live peacefully together without technology. Most of the film was shot in Los Angeles, where Koepp was based at the time. The film grossed $3.6 million in a limited theatrical release in the United States and drew mixed reviews from critics, who highlighted its surreal and enveloping style as well as the performances by the lead actors. Criticism was targeted at its safe and predictable ending. A novel based on the film and written by Dewey Gram was released in September 1996 by Berkley Books.