Movie: Triangle

Now and again a movie comes out that plays with your mind in all the right ways. Rather than giving you the opportunity to kick back and enjoy the experience, it actually keeps you on your toes. That is exactly the type of film Triangle aims to be, the question is does writer and director Christopher Smith pull it off?

After a couple of promising horror movies (Creep, Severance) Smith has set about making a complex movie with twists and confusion galore. Enlisting ex Home And Away actress Melissa George to run about in a pair of small denim shorts and wedged sandals can't hurt when you are trying to hold people's attention too....

Anyway to set the scene, single mother Jess (George) is invited to join Greg (Michael Dorman) and his friends for a trip on a yacht (called Triangle). When she arrives at the dock Jess is in a very odd mood after apparently dropping her autistic son (Joshua McIvor) off at school. As they set sail it is apparent that something isn't quite right, Jess doesn't know what is wrong but has a feeling that whatever it is she still wants to go sailing today.

Once out at sea a freakish storm hits and the boat is over turned. Out of nowhere a giant ocean vessel (the Aeolus) emerges through fog. Jess gets a horrible feeling that getting on the ship is the wrong thing to do, it seems to be deserted, although we do catch a glimpse of a person on the upper deck. From here on it all gets a bit dark and frankly to say any more would give away too much.

Triangle has a familiar feel to it, paying homage to the horror/thriller genre all the way through. While the setting is clearly influenced by notions of the mythical Bermuda Triangle, the story telling is inspired by the clever non-linear style of Memento and the 'haunted' venue is a nod to The Shining.

As a whole it does work as a movie, but with repetition and at times predictable 'twists'  sadly it drags a bit at times. We have come to expect a lot of what Triangle has to offer, so rather than playing with movie conventions it is just repeating what other movies have already done, meaning Triangle comes across as a bit dated.

There are big positives about Triangle, George's performance is very passionate, she clearly lived the character and this is a very important film for her. What is disappointing is that despite the fact that this film was made and financed by British and Australian talent and investment, all the Australian actors speak with American accents. Even the amazing coast line is shot on the Gold Coast, but passed off as being Florida. It is a big shame and spells out again that Triangle shouldn't have tried so hard to mimic something it's not.

Triangle is out 16th October - check out Odeon for screening times.