Throughout the opening credits, we watch Jess (Melissa George), who is at home attempting to comfort her son, who seems to have woken up from a bad dream. While in Jess’ house, we witness strange and unexplained events, such as someone ringing her doorbell, only to find no one is there. We also see Jess facing various challenges when it comes to caring for her autistic son. The opening credits end with Jess discovering a post-it note reminding her to meet Greg (Michael Dorman) at his boat, called “The Triangle,” at the harbour.
When Jess arrives at the harbour to meet up with Greg and some of his friends, she looks upset and disturbed, as if something terrible has just occurred. She hugs Greg closely when she sees him, and he asks if she’s okay. Jess apologises, shrugs it off, and confirms that she’s still keen to sail with Greg and all his friends. However, Greg’s friends are suspicious of Jess, especially when she claims to have her son in school on a weekend. But thankfully, Greg reinforces the fact that Jess’s child is autistic and requires additional care.
Jess is so exhausted as the boat leaves the dock that she falls asleep for a few hours below deck. When she wakes up, she claims to have had a bad dream. As the boat continues to sail, an unexpected amount of wind picks up, followed by a sudden and severe electrical storm. A distress call is heard on the boat’s radio from an unknown ship where the person aboard claims that everyone is dead. Greg tries to obtain more details, but the person on the radio is unresponsive.
As the storm worsens, Jess, Greg, and their friends take shelter below deck and put on lifejackets. Soon, the boat overturns completely. When the storm subsides, Jess and the others find themselves stranded at sea. Thankfully, out of nowhere, a large vessel, “The Aeolus”, appears with a mysterious figure on its deck. The group board the large ship, hoping to find help. However, they soon find that the enormous vessel is deserted. Jess experiences a strange sense of déjà vu as she explores the vessel. Soon, the group discovers they are not alone, and a mysterious killer begins targeting them one by one. Amidst these attacks, they also encounter several unexplainable phenomena that don’t make sense. Can Jess and her friends uncover the ship’s dark secret and survive?
Triangle is best described as a thriller with elements of fantasy and sci-fi. Right from the beginning, the film presents many strong and fascinating mysteries that instantly hook audiences. Although the opening may not be entirely understandable, the strange and dramatic sequence gives viewers a strong taste of what’s to come. Thankfully, if viewers are patient and watch the film unfold, it can be a rich, rewarding experience with memorable twists and outcomes. For those unaware, Triangle was directed and written by Christopher Smith, whose past work includes Black Death (2010), Creep (2004), and The Banishing (2020). Naturally, Smith is no stranger to making horror and thriller films.
The use of visual effects throughout is impressive and creative. The filming style and creative concepts, like the use of mirrors, are also clever and unique. Most of the performances are strong, although there are a few weaker moments in the dialogue at select times. However, considering the film’s budget, general premise, and mystery in motion, I’m quite forgiving of these minor shortcomings.
Overall, Triangle is a brilliant film with a compelling and engaging mystery that keeps viewers guessing while maintaining suspense. It features a brilliant twist and a thrilling story through a combination of sci-fi and fantasy. The story makes it nearly impossible not to be invested, emotionally gripped from the start, and eventually shocked by the heartbreaking and surprising revelations in the finale. With Christopher Smith’s masterful direction, cleverness, and creativity, I’m proud to say that Triangle is one of my all-time favourite Australian films!
7th September 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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