My review was written in March 1990 after watching the film on RCA/Columbia video cassette.
A bland lead performance sinks "Tripwire", an unpretentious Cinetel action pic briefly released theatrically in January by New Line ahead of home video.
Terence Knox plays an FBI man who interferes with terrorists, led by David Warner, who are sabotaging a train. He kills Warner's son, starting a vendetta. Warner kills Knox' wife Meg Foster and kidnaps his son.
When Knox is bounced from the federal payroll for not obeying orders he embarks on his one-man campaign to get Warner, aided from the inside by romantic FBI co-worker Isabella Hoffman. Film each in smug, far too pat fashion.
Biggest problem here is casting of Knox, who's simply too stolid, dead-on as a colorless FBI guy. Casting against type might have worked.
Supporting cast is arresting, including the always dependable Foster. Charlotte Lewis as a very sympathetic terrorist and Yaphet Kotto once again essaying his "Midnight Run" persona as Knox' FBI boss. Tommy Chong and his wife pop up in pointless cameos.
