Critics react to Jessica Alba’s Netflix movie ‘Trigger Warning’

Jessica Alba's new Netflix movie "Trigger Warning" has received mixed reviews from critics, with a significant number expressing disappointment. The film, which debuted on the streaming service on Friday, stars Alba as Parker, a U.S. Special Forces commando who returns home after her father's murder.

Parker takes over her family's bar and encounters her former boyfriend-turned-sheriff, played by Mark Webber, and his brother, portrayed by Jake Weary. Both characters are the sons of a powerful senator, played by Anthony Michael Hall. As Parker investigates her father's death, she discovers that a vicious gang has infiltrated her hometown, complicating her efforts.

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Trigger Warning" holds a 26% rating based on 19 reviews, indicating a generally negative reception. The audience score is even lower at 16%, based on over 50 user ratings.

David Ehrlich of IndieWire compared the film to Sylvester Stallone's "Rambo" movies, criticizing Alba's performance. He wrote, "Seemingly bored out of her mind in every scene where she isn’t slitting a bad guy’s throat, the likable Dark Angel actress—a capable action star who’s never lacked charisma in the past—appears to have confused Rambo-like stoicism with complete dissociation."

Robbie Collin of the U.K.’s Telegraph was also critical, stating, "Despite its title, Trigger Warning is about as inflammatory as a ham and cheese sandwich. There are installments of the Minions franchise more liable to épater the bourgeoisie than this thinly spread thriller from the production company behind the John Wick films."

Dennis Harvey of Variety offered a more positive take, giving the film a "fresh" rating. He noted that "Trigger Warning is slick and eventful enough to maintain viewer engagement," but also pointed out plot contrivances and commented that director Mouly Surya "doesn’t exhibit any great flair for building suspense or staging violent set-pieces."

"Trigger Warning" marks Alba's return to the big screen after a five-year hiatus, with her last appearance in the 2019 action crime mystery "Killers Anonymous." The film also stars Tone Bell and Gabriel Bosso and is streaming exclusively on Netflix.