A professional hit-man is hired to take out a target -- however, his girlfriend’s pregnancy gives him second thoughts. He decides that after this job, he will renounce his profession and turn himself in. This is the first feature film from Taiwanese director Alex Yang, who participated in script-writing and production on Edward Yang's early films. "The Trigger" has echoes of Yang's "Mahjong." The actors in the film, except for veteran Ngai Man-Yin, are all new faces -- unfortunately, Ngai's death in 2005 also made "The Trigger" his last appearance on screen.
A down-and-out scholar Atsai is so disillusioned with life that he tries to commit suicide in a dilapidated temple. At that very moment, a female ghost appears on the scene. As she is on the verge of killing him, a male ghost also shows up. The male ghost saves him, but Atsai gives him a scolding for his trouble. Then they start sharing their woes, and end up drowning their sorrow in wine. Unfortunately, the wine is drugged and Atsai dies. Forty years later, a Taoist priest meets the ghost of Atsai, who asks for his help because he is being controlled by an old demon and cannot be reborn.
Chia plays a government agent, Iron Phoenix, who’s after a bunch of crooked miners, and Barry plays a boastful young man without much fu talent. Iron Phoenix teaches Barry some martial arts skills, mainly because it helps her investigations about the miners, as she waits for her chance to strike and close down their illicit operation.
The story begins with a feud between two families in the early days of the Republic of China. One family side’s with the Japanese and the other is totally wiped out. Enter our hero who resolves to wreak revenge on the murderous traitors — its furious kung fu fighting all the way!
