Triangle

Horrorphile

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Triangle

September 15th 2010 06:24

Triangle (2009) is written and directed by Christopher Smith, who made Creep (2004) and Severance (2006). It’s a movie to be taken with a grain or two of sea salt. Any attempt to try and comprehend the internal logic or deconstruct the narrative structure will result in psychological meltdown and a serious headache. The best thing to do is simply enjoy the ride and let the waves crash over you. Triangle is not watertight, but it makes for a fantastic nightmare scenario.

Triangle Melissa George and Michael Dorman

Melissa George as Jess and Michael Dorman as Greg

Jess (Melissa George) joins her friend Greg (Michael Dorman) for a day on his yacht, along with Sally (Rachael Carpani), her husband Downey (Henry Nixon), Victor (Liam Hemsworth) and Heather (Emma Lung). Jess appears anxious and preoccupied, partly because she’s unused to leaving her autistic son’s side for such a long period of time, but there’s something else causing her concern, and even Jess can’t put her finger on it. Only time will tell.

Triangle Henry Dixon and Rachael Carpani

Henry Dixon as Downey and Racheal Carpani as Sally

Emma Lung as Heather

Disaster strikes when a freak squall capsizes the boat and leaves the group in shock. But luck appears to be on their side in the shape of a massive ocean liner which appears out of the salty ocean mist. The silhouette of a figure confirms that they’ve been seen, and soon enough they’ve left the ruined yacht for the safety of the liner. But in reality (or a semblance of it) they’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire … and Jess will continue to be burnt ‘til Hell freezes over.

Liam Hemsworth as Victor

Like the recent science-fiction horror thriller Timecrimes (2007) - which both feature main characters with makeshift masks - Triangle plays with casuality - a time loop - and has Jess traveling in a terrifying circle desperate to fix the mistakes of the past by tampering with the present in order to prevent the future from happening again. Yes, it’s confusing and exhausting for all concerned. In fact, it’s downright murder for most of the cast, but hey, sometimes blood must be shed to prevent tears before bedtime. Or is that tears must be shed to prevent further bloodletting …?

The keys to the puzzle?

Director Smith originally conjured the movie’s premise to be set in the Bermuda Triangle, and the loop beginning with a group of survivors on a capsized yacht being rescued by a liner with a figure looking down at them from the bow, who happens to be one of the people being rescued, only from an overlapping future. The Bermuda angle was eventually dropped, but the yacht was named Triangle to work as a mystical reference. Another reference to the supernatural is the ocean liner’s corridors and room 237, a big nod to The Shining (1980), which Smith openly acknowledges.

It's just a bad dream, right?

The name of the ocean liner Aeolus is direct reference to the Greek deity who controlled the ocean winds (and the ship’s abbreviation pops up later in the movie, just to remind viewers of the mythological torment). But more importantly is the indirect reference to the murderous, deceitful Greek king Sisyphus (son of Aeolus). As a punishment from the gods for his arrogance and trickery, Sisyphus was made to roll a huge rock up a steep hill, but before he could reach the top of the hill, the rock would always roll back down again, forcing him to begin again. The maddening nature of the punishment was reserved for Sisyphus due to his belief that his cleverness surpassed that of Zeus. Zeus exerted power and put Sisyphus in his place by binding him to an eternity of frustration. As such interminable challenges or tasks are often described as Sisyphean.

Losing the locket ... again and again

It becomes apparent Jess has done wrong; tragedy has ensued, and reality has been perverted in order for Jess to try and change events and set them straight. But is it all in her fractured mind? Is Jess suffering from a form of schizophrenia? Or are the events real, but overwhelmed by the ominous realm of the Bermuda Triangle - since the majority of the movie takes place off the coast of Florida …? Writer/director Smith wants his movie to be read with several possibilities at hand. It seems most likely (after viewing the movie) that the beginning of the movie isn’t the beginning of the narrative, and the loop’s “start” is actually when the group boards the ocean liner. The movie’s end then overlaps at a different, but crucial point, but throws up numerous questions which will probably never be answered … Suffice to say, it’s never a good omen when you kill a seagull (read: albatross).

Jess must confront her own demons

Triangle will no doubt do very well on DVD with repeat viewings readily available, but it’s a movie that works great on the big screen. But as entertaining as Triangle is, I can’t shake the nagging annoyance I have with the production being aimed squarely at the American market. It’s a UK/Australian co-pro, shot in Queensland, but doubling for Miami, with mostly well-known young Aussie actors playing Americans. The accents are dodgy as hell, and that hurts the movie. I realise the filmmakers want the Bermuda Triangle angle, but why didn’t they use unknown American actors instead? It’s a shame producers are forced to play this game of commerce, which I feel hampers a movie’s ability to properly engage an audience, as I’m sure intelligent Americans and Australians won’t be convinced by the accents, and for me, holding a believable accent is an integral part of acting, so if I don’t believe the accent, then the actor’s performance comes under scrutiny, and I’m not engaged like I should be. It bugs the hell out of me.

Fear is in the mind of the beholder

But dodgy accents aside, the actors on board are all as good as can be, and, like I said before, Triangle is a clever and taut nightmare ride of tension, confusion, danger and frustration. And much murder to boot. You’re in a deep swell, swim first, let the questions surface later when you’re on dry land.

Triangle DVD and Blu-ray is released in Australia on Icon's Insomnia label on October 6th.

Here's the trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

17 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JESUS

April 19th 2010 03:32

What's Love?

Intersting, I think Melissa George is totally underated, always had a soft spot for her.

As always your review leaves me with enough tidbits to taste, but not enough to savour the flavour, will be seeking this one out as well as House of Flesh Mannequins.

Comment by Natalina

April 19th 2010 04:58

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

This film currently sits patiently atop my DVD player waiting to be viewed. I'd never heard of it before and worried that it would be another bit of straight to video crap that sucked me in with an interesting premise... Your review makes me very anxious to watch. I'll let ya know what I think.

Comment by Bryn

April 19th 2010 06:17

Horrorphile

Jesus

but not enough to savour the flavour

Um, is that a compliment, I'm unsure ...

Nat, you'll dig this I'm sure, even with reservations.

Comment by JESUS

April 20th 2010 05:19

What's Love?

haha, a total compliment, I just meant you dont give too much away!

gonna check it out

peace

Comment by The Master

April 20th 2010 21:45

Ehh I dont know, I usually like movies to make sense, this one sounds like the writer made things up as he went along and hoped no one would notice. I will still give it a shot but I will not be expecting much from it.

Comment by Bryn

April 21st 2010 00:44

Horrorphile

Master, it's no Timecrimes, but still good silly fun. It has a great staged squall too!

Comment by The Master

April 21st 2010 19:15

LOL okay then

Comment by Michaelie

September 15th 2010 09:48

Flick Wit

Pass for me I think - even though as a child I had an ongoing fear of The Bermuda Triangle that still lingers - because a) I can't stand Melissa George, and b) you said this about it:

I can’t shake the nagging annoyance I have with the production being aimed squarely at the American market. It’s a UK/Australian co-pro, shot in Queensland, but doubling for Miami, with mostly well-known young Aussie actors playing Americans.

which together make me want to steer my ship well away...

Good post though

Comment by JohnDoe

September 15th 2010 21:55

Film & TV on DVD

Wow, what's with the massive vote count for The Triangle? You must have timed this review very well.

I had ho-hum feedback on this so despite the premise being to my liking I have avoided it. Can't stand Melissa George either, she reminds me of that hammy chick on The Henderson Kids.

May eventually see it when the well runs dry.

Comment by Matt Shea

September 15th 2010 23:13

The dates and vote count on this post have me totally confused, but great write-up Bryn. The premise is a decent one and I might have to check it out despite having, like you, a big problem with dodgy accents.

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2010 03:48

Horrorphile

Matt, yeah, I re-set the post date, since it's getting a local DVD release (I saw it at ANOH festival earlier in the year) through Icon whom sent me a screener, so I did them a favour.

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2010 03:49

Horrorphile

JD, go on, you know you want to! The time-play is kinda cool.

Comment by David O'Connell

September 16th 2010 05:55

20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic

This one looks pretty enticing Bryn, but I can't say I'm a fan of George's either, she's mostly useless (as in the extraneous Amityville remake) - and besides, her teeth distract the hell out of me.