After reading Adam Cook's wonderful interpretation of Triangle through comparisons to Greek mythology last weekend, it gave me the boot up the arse I needed to finally rewatch it, about a year after I saw it for the first time.
Some films demand to be seen again just by virtue of their quality. Others demand it through simply confusing the hell out of you. Triangle pulls both of these off, and with aplomb. Viewing it the second time round, I found myself, inevitably, watching it in a completely different way - not because I knew what was going on and what was likely to happen. It was more a case of simplifying itself for myself and just trying to follow that Melissa George we are introduced to when she walks down the jetty at the start of the film. It does help you to follow things, honest!
It's also good to rewatch it knowing this time round you are getting a looping and repeating Sisyphean (meant in a more positive literal sense here) storyline rather than expecting a slasher film set on a deserted liner and unexpectedly stumbling into something rather bonkers halfway through. Of course, now I'm left asking myself - did I enjoy being surprised first time round or getting the references and plot (or as much as you can) second time round?
Whatever the answer is, Triangle is a truly outstanding film in so many ways. I don't believe Christopher Smith when he said he wasn't really sure what was going on himself in the storyline here - it's just too intricately sewn together in so many ways, so much so that even with its obviously bizarre storyline you rarely find yourself flapping in incredulity at anything that is happening. And that really is quite a feat for a film like this. Almost every frame of the film means something to the overall story and idea.
It's also a film that, unfortunately, seems doomed amongst the uninitiated to sit on Blockbuster Video shelves and in LoveFilm watchlists as a slasher film on a boat that might be worth a look for Angel from Home & Away if nothing else. But there is something genuinely special about Triangle - just make sure you give it a couple chances to make that apparent to you.
It's good to read that you liked it as much a second time around. It is sad that this is getting lumped in with more traditional horror films (I'm not even sure it should even be classed as horror) but I guess that is down to the pretty poor marketing.
It's not really a conventional horror film at all although it does have some slasher elements.
I guess marketing it must have been difficult for them given the nature of the storyline and how little they gave away compared to other films of this type like Retroactive or Timecrimes. Hopefully it will be one of those films that picks up a very slow word of mouth and reappraisal in some quarters.
He's a promising director, too, Christopher Smith. Really enjoyed Severance and Creep was okay, too.
I wasn't a big fan of his first two films which is why this surprised me so much. Although I did rather enjoy his next film, Black Death. It's nothing amazing but it does have a good atmosphere and solid cast.
I saw this in a sneak preview in Holland a couple of weeks prior to its release here. The trailer had already played a couple of times before other sneak previews and I remember thinking that it looked like yet another 'been there done that' horror affair. About 20 minutes in I knew I was going to love it and this was strengthened by the fact that most people in the movie theatre walked out. This film is certainly not for everyone and it is certainly not generic.
My immediate reaction after seeing it was that it was a representation of purgatory. I haven't analysed it as thoroughly as Adam (Fantastic 'review' but the way, Adam), but that was my initial response. Will definitely watch it again soon.
Black Death has our nation's pride Carice van Houten in it, so that automatically makes me appreciate it more ;) Apart from that, it was actually a very well-made film indeed.
Yes, I've got Black Watch on my watchlist. Smith is really good and insightful on the Video Nasties documentary I reviewed the other day, too, really knows the horror genre inside and out.