Triangle (2009)
By: Christopher Smith (director, writer)
Starring: Melissa George, Liam Hemsworth, Michael Dorman, Rachael Carpani, Emma Lung, Henry Nixon, Joshua McIvor
The story revolves around the passengers of a yachting trip in the Atlantic Ocean who, when struck by mysterious weather conditions, jump to another ship only to experience greater havoc on the open seas.
I really enjoy a good horror film. Actually, I really enjoy a bad horror film, too, albeit for entirely different reasons. I’ve been on a steady diet of outlandish monster movies and slasher flicks since I was a kid, so I was pretty excited to watch Triangle. Even if it was bad, I figured I’d have an okay time. Happily enough, it wasn’t bad at all. What it was, however, was a pretty solid mindfuck, which I appreciate in any genre of film but especially horror.
We’ve got a yachting party, we’ve got a mysterious and devastating storm, we’ve got what appears to be an abandoned cruise ship from the Thirties with a killer on the loose. As horror film premises go, it’s not that extraordinary. That is, until you realize that things aren’t so cut and dry, and now we’ve got a heroine stuck in a time loop, destined to repeat her experiences until, presumably, she figures out the key to stopping them. Along the way, those experiences weave a tale that’s both astonishing and incredibly creepy, and which elevates Triangle from horror to avant garde thriller.
Melissa George gives a great performance as the central character caught in the middle of this Groundhog’s Day gone tragically wrong, although I have one petty confession: I really wish she’d close her mouth. She’s a beautiful girl, but she has those giant teeth and she comes off like a mouth breather, which is never attractive and occasionally distracting to someone like me who has quirks about aesthetics.
The pacing was tight, and while it’ll certainly confuse you in places, the plot strings you along nicely as it occasionally reveals mindblowing gems of truth. The ending wrapped everything up wonderfully, and while it wasn’t knock you back in your seat impactful, it was nonetheless handled very well. Overall, this was a great movie experience, and if you enjoy horror or thrillers, I’d definitely recommend it.
“She’s a beautiful girl, but she has those giant teeth and she comes off like a mouth breather, which is never attractive and occasionally distracting to someone like me who has quirks about aesthetics.”
BRB, dying laughing.
I hadn’t heard of anyone else seeing this film until now (thanks to melloniel’s post in playingtrack3). I was very surprised by this movie. At first, I just wanted to shake the main character out of her zombie state, and yes, she needed to close her mouth!
But as the story got going it got really good. Especially when you start figuring things out-or so you think-and it all just goes to hell. Most shocking part for me in the entire movie was when she chases someone to the top deck and finds them all just-AH! That was crushing, painful, and yes, shocking.
So yes, I was pleasantly surprised by this one!
That was the moment that did it for me, too. That, and the seagulls. My brain just couldn’t take it.