Playing a little catch up we’ve got David Harley’s review for Chris Smith’s (Severance, Creep) psychological thriller Triangle, which is now available on DVD and Blu-ray everywhere. Starring Melissa George (Turistas, Amityville Horror, 30 Days of Night), the film is a psychological thriller set inside the Bermuda Triangle.
Christopher Smith seems to get better and better with each film. Creep is essentially a reimagining of Raw Meat, albeit a more interesting take, even if it does drag a bit. Severance has several inspired comedic moments and death scenes and is a tad more fun, even if it too slows down a tad too much. With his latest feature, Triangle, Smith once again manages to outdo his last feature and actually made something that I can totally get into: a really violent and sometimes WTF-worthy Twilight Zone episode.

Melissa George stars as Jess, a stressed out mom who decides to take the day off and join her friend Greg (Michael Dorman) and a few others out on the high seas. Their relaxing day comes to a screeching halt when a huge storm sends their yacht off course and into the Bermuda Triangle. Struggling to stay afloat and alive, the group spots a seemingly abandoned cruise ship floating by and takes refuge in it. Of course, in true horror fashion, it’s not really abandoned and pretty soon after, the bodies start piling up.

Like Moon, the twist is revealed pretty early on and works similarly, with the main characters’ reaction to the shocks and surprises much more interesting than the audience’s. There are some genuinely tense moments, including one scene with a pile of bodies on the deck of the boat that`s definitely going to stick with anyone that watches it. As long as you can make it through the extremely typical first half-hour setup, the rest of the film is something that deserves your utmost attention, with a few “blink and you’ll miss it” plot points and revelations. If there’s one thing I can say about watching Triangle, it’s that you shouldn’t get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of it, otherwise you’ll be lost.

The film sets up its rules and plays by them for the most part – ANY film that covers this particular ground will have a few holes and unexplained moments – and since it requires your complete attention and demands repeat viewings, it has a sort of audience participation that few other flicks can pull off without being extremely gimmicky.

Unfortunately, the special features on the Blu-Ray are quite dire. Aside from a few trailers, the only actual extra is a cast and crew interview montage, which features a bunch of different interviews cobbled together – very poorly, I might add. The 1080p transfer is somewhat uneven, alternating between crisp and soft picture throughout. Although not the transfers fault, the clarity of the picture does make the cheap CGI look even cheaper. Considering the budget and how engaging the film is, it’s a minor grievance, even if it is somewhat jarring at times. The Dolby True HD track, on the other hand, is exceptional. Mixing is at the right levels, giving proper representation on the sound effect and soundtrack fronts.

Regardless of the forgettable extras, Triangle is definitely worth picking up on Blu-Ray or DVD, simply because it’s a great cerebral thriller, worthy of repeated viewings, dissections and late night discussions.

Film: 4/5
Blu-Ray: 2.5/5