Awesome
Triangle is a beguiling WTF movie that needs to be seen to be understood and features a powerhouse performance by Melissa George.
Plot: Five people found themselves caught in a nightmare when their boat capsizes and they board a seemingly deserted cruise liner.
Review: Certain movies are almost beyond review. I’m thinking of flicks like Memento, Midsommar and Suspiria. Messed-up, crazy films where the concept is so beyond what you see in a “normal” movie that to do a review is almost a disservice. I would put Triangle in that vein of movie. This review is going to be shorter than most of my other ones because to give anything away would be a crime. If you haven’t seen this movie, go seek it out.
The story is meticulous and terrific. I will not tell you one part of the story other than most of the action takes place on a large cruise ship. That’s it. I’m not revealing anything else because doing so would spoil the movie. I will say it’s one of those movies that you’ll probably keep guessing as to what happens next. I figured it out early, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the movie. In fact, I enjoyed it more because of that. I was able to appreciate what the movie was trying to do.
The performances were outstanding. Chief amongst them was Melissa George, who gave an unbelievable performance as the main character. The terror, confusion, and determination she shows throughout the movie feel very real, and you easily root for her throughout the film. An extremely young Liam Hemsworth is a treat to see as a mysterious deckhand. The cast is small, and most of the movie rests on George’s shoulders, but the other actors do solid work in their performances.
This is a minimalist movie, so there’s not much to talk about regarding visual effects. There is one jarring visual effect that was done quite well and must have taken quite a bit of work to do. This flick is all about pace and atmosphere, though, so don’t expect a lot of fanciness. Most of the money seems to have been spent on the cruise liner itself, and it is almost a labyrinth in its scale and how it is shot. At 98 minutes, this movie breezes and could easily have been longer, though I understand why they wanted to keep it short.
What can I really say about this movie? It’s brilliant. It was conceptually unique and interesting, a well-told story woven around an intelligently written protagonist. There’s not a single negative thing I can say about this movie. If you can find it, watch it and let me know what you think.