Dead Trigger (2017)

Overview

Dead Trigger is a 2017 action-horror film directed by Mike Cuff and Scott Windhauser, based on the popular mobile game of the same name. Starring Dolph Lundgren, the film blends zombie mayhem with military sci-fi elements, following a group of gamers who are recruited to fight real-life undead. Though modest in execution, the movie leans into its B-movie style with unapologetic action and campy thrills.

Plot Summary

In a near future devastated by a viral outbreak, the government covers up a global zombie epidemic. In a last-ditch effort, they launch "Dead Trigger"—a first-person shooter video game designed to find skilled survivors. When the top players are recruited into the military, they are shocked to discover that the game was a training tool for fighting real zombies.

Led by Captain Kyle Walker (Dolph Lundgren), this ragtag group of gamers must transform from joystick heroes into real-world warriors as they navigate a high-risk mission to find a missing scientist who may hold the key to saving humanity.

Main Cast

• Dolph Lundgren as Captain Kyle Walker

• Autumn Reeser as Tara Conlan

• Isaiah Washington as General Blackburn

• Chris Galya, Justin Chon, and Tamara Feldman as elite gamers-turned-soldiers

Style & Elements

• Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Zombie Horror

• Tone: Fast-paced, over-the-top, video game-inspired

• Visuals: Digital-heavy effects with gunfire, gore, and undead hordes

• Soundtrack: Electronic beats and metal riffs to match the game-like pace

Reception

• Audience Response: Mixed to negative; appreciated by fans of zombie action and video game adaptations, but criticized for low-budget production, generic dialogue, and uneven performances

• Critical View: Considered a niche film for those who enjoy campy zombie flicks and B-action stars like Lundgren

• Game Fans: Some noted the loose connection to the Dead Trigger mobile game, while others felt it lacked the thrill and intensity of the source material

Final Verdict

Dead Trigger is a straight-up zombie action romp that embraces its video game roots with exaggerated shootouts and undead chaos. While far from polished, it delivers what fans of low-budget zombie thrillers might expect—bullets, blood, and Dolph Lundgren kicking zombie butt.