DeadandWalking » Triangle (2009) Review

Triangle R1

A very clever ‘time-shift’ film. Theres not many films that can deliver a fresh, new feel and angle on the horror genre. The last time i can remember seeing a ‘fresh’ angle was the first Saw film, but Triangle has a great story to tell – Exploiting our own inner fears is a good starting point, and Triangle has you feeling slightly uneasy from the off. The sea can bring out many feelings of unease and not just because its a vast intimidating place, no, but because theres a real fear of drowning. A fear within us all. Fits just right in a horror film. Right?

Jess (Melissa George – 30 Days Of Night, wAz, Mulholland Drive), a single mother with an Autistic son, wakes up on the morning of the sailing trip puzzled about a strange dream she’s having. Soon, she heads off on the sailing trip with a group of friends. What appears to be a serene sailing trip soon turns ugly, in a very clever little way. At first glance, i thought that Triangle would be in the vein of Dead Calm, then moments later i would be thinking, “now its like ghost Ship“. Eerily, you start to realise that its none of these films. Its far better. Both the plot and mystery tangle you in a strange surreal world. A world that only Donnie Darko or Spongebob Squarepants could live in.

Triangle will keep you guessing whilst understanding a little more with each new twist. And there are many twists and turns. It does get more complex as the films goes on. Each new twist slowly makes a bit more sense, making you understand what you saw 5, 10, 20 minutes earlier. Theres a certain foggy air similar to the complexity of Memento (2000) and The Butterfly Effect (2004) within Triangle. Very well crafted, and devised.

Thanks to some clever editing, great direction and credible acting, Triangle is one of those films, that, if all this seems to make no sense, but you kind of understand it, then Triangle is a must for fans of the ‘twists and turns’ horror genre. That unsettling sense of loneliness in a wide open space, not too dissimilar to the Shining, where your minds starts to melt with everything happening around you and that the main character could just be slightly unhinged in some way,……Great stuff!

Triangle isn’t a full on gore fest, nor is it supposed to be. Neither will you be biting your nails with nerves or hiding behind a cushion, but you will be left scratching your head and left with that feeling of how a great film can be put together. There are, of course, the mandatory “jump scenes” which actually seem out of sync [probably on purpose for effect] for the film which only makes you more tense. Theres some very smart moments throughout the film, and anyone with the brains to unpick this film without taking an Asprin afterwards will deserve a holiday. Looking at things from a different angle, breaking it down and understanding the twists and characters makes Triangle a truly good film.

Theres many more aspects to Triangle. Theres far more things that could be said, but in all honesty, its just one of those films that you need to see to fully appreciate. Im not one of those reviewers that give out mass spoilers and give away many “Key” points to the film. If i did, there wouldn’t be any point in seeing the film.