Aug 4: Triangle

"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."

Directed by: Christopher Smith, Rated: R, 99 minutes

The other day, in my 30 Days of Night review, I mentioned a little movie called Triangle. Well, after realizing I had not reviewed the movie yet, and just mentioning it reminded me of how good it is, I decided to revisit the film for today. It's a little gem of a film that I feel has been seen by absolutely no one and I feel it deserves much more recognition than it has had. Triangle is a tricky film, as it may be a little too ambitious for the average movie-goer. It's full of twists and turns and a puzzle that's hard to solve into the movie's crazy conclusion. It's a very unsettling movie that makes you think. After you're able to solve the film's "riddle", you're left kind of nervous, quite frankly, and lost with the characters on screen. 

Jess (Melissa George) is a single mother struggling to get by. Her son, Tommy, has a lot of problems and can't function as well as the next kid. She's loaded with stress and just wants a break. Her friend (and somewhat flirt), Greg, convinces Jess to take a ride on his yacht for the day, hoping it'll be a way for her to relax. Jess feels very uneasy about the idea, but reluctantly goes along for the trip. After awhile at sea, a storm sweeps in, destroying the yacht. The remaining survivors hold onto the wreckage until a large cruise vessel comes within view. The gang board the ship, seemingly abandoned, and attempt to find rescue and a way home. However, it's not as easy as it seems and a psychological terror comes in faster than the storm, and Jess and her group struggle to solve the ships mysteries. 

The film only strengthens my fears of the oh-chin. 

Triangle is a genuinely smart flick. The script never lets on its secrets and you feel just as lost as Jess does aboard the ship. There are dozens of hints throughout the first half of the film, but nothing that gives it away too early. The film is eerily suspenseful, messing with your mind as much as your intelligence, leaving you wondering what will happen next. Writer and director, Christopher Smith, does a terrific job at capturing the fear of isolation on the open sea and teases, just the slightest, bits of hope in a horrific situation. He crafts a film that shows the light at the end of the tunnel, only to turn the tunnel around completely and have you searching for its exit again. 

He really likes f**king with you. 

As you can tell, I highly recommend Triangle. It's a tight thriller with a solid cast that settles with you long after the end credits. While I know not everyone will share in the love for this little film like I have, I still recommend giving it a chance. Yes, it has it's flaws and if you nitpick the story, you're sure to find plot holes, but it's still worth your time and energy. It's also very violent, with moments that may seem a little over the top but still nothing too dark to ruin the film. Do yourself a favor and go find and watch Triangle and pray to God you never find yourself lost at sea, with only a strange ship to explore, with secrets you could never imagine. 

The Good:

a clever script that never stops turning climaxing into one hell of a finish

The Bad:

parts of the film are just a tad repetitive, but when you look at the movie as a whole, it makes sense to the story

The Ugly:

the unsettling feeling the film leaves you lingering with, making you think back on the events that transpired

Overall: 8.2/10

Trailer: