Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Peereddi I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

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

A1nut This movie illustrates a solid reason why prepping for bad situations is a good idea. It only takes two days of the power being off for people to begin turning on each other. If everyone had been prepared, that wouldn't have been an issue. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that everyone should build a bunker in their basement stocked with 20 years worth of food. But a two week supply of food, water and a weapon with which to defend yourself could be the difference between life and death in a situation like this.So, all in all, a mediocre movie with a strong message. It never hurts to be prepared.

gavin6942 How tenuous is man's hold on civilization when survival becomes an issue? When the lights go out and stay out for several days, suburbanites Matthew and Annie learn the hard way that man is "by nature" a predatory creature.Before "Stir of Echoes", David Koepp made "The Trigger Effect". Apparently critics liked it, but the film bombed, and is not sitting very high on IMDb. Respectfully, I disagree with the critics. The film was just so blunt. People are rude to each other. I get that. There was such potential in this film but it seems to have just gone the easiest route.Most disappointing is the use of the cast. Kyle MacLachlan is amazing, and he is wasted in this film. I wasn't aware he could play a jerk, but now I know. Michael Rooker is also one of my favorites. And yet, neither one seems to be able to save this mess. I thought great actors could save just about anything, but I would be wrong.

Taneka Thompson This is my first review for IMDb even though I've been a lurker for years but felt compelled to write one for this movie because it has gotten a bad rap on this site. I've been looking for a good movie on netflix that I haven't watched and stumbled onto this one. I love Elizabeth Shue and the lead guy from Sex and the City. The opening scene was a bit weird but makes sense once the movie gets going. I love that the film was tense from the beginning and showed how because of societal norms and niceties, we tend not to confront others when they offend us. However the niceties quickly go out the window once the power goes out. I don't think this is much of a stretch because I've seen people go crazy in the grocery store when it's hurricane season. The movie forces you to confront stereotypes and prejudices. The characters judge each other on face value because of the situation they are in. Overall the acting was good and so was the movie's pacing. I even enjoyed the ending even though some said it seemed slapped on. I just wish we could have gone deeper into the lead characters' marital woes. Overall, Good Friday night flick.

Vomitron_G Why I couldn't recall practically anything from this film, is really beyond me. I saw it once during the late 90's, and the only thing I still remembered was that I thought it was pretty good. With this second time viewing, I can only conclude the same thing: It's beyond me, as this really is a fine film and pretty memorable while at it too. A blackout causes fear and distress in a small city. In the suburbs, the inhabitants of one street try to make the best of it. When a burglar breaks into Matthew & Annie's house, someone dies. And things go from bad to worse. And from a small town thriller with various characters, into a sudden road-movie with three protagonists taking the lead and an unpleasant (but worthwhile) Michael Rooker popping up by surprise. A cool little thriller that keeps you on your toes, towards an ending that's not all that horrible as you might expect it to be. Especially Kyle MacLachlan & Elisabeth Shue (as Matthew & Annie) give fine performances, though sadly Shue's character (splendidly portrayed in the first half) becomes a bit under-used in the second part of the movie. Still, check out this film if you have the chance. Reading some of the harsher comments on here, I wonder what people were expecting from this film... A profound piece of emotional drama? A Tarantino-like blabber-fest with many über-cool characters? Whatever. I didn't know what to expect - even this second time - and "The Trigger Effect" had me once again entertained. The characters were okay, the leads were fine, well-photographed and it turned out to be a sort of 'two-in-one' kind of deal. At least you get to choose which half of the film you liked better.