Yet another brilliant small film from Down Under. Its heartbreaking; single mother and son living parallel nightmares. Definite Halloween night viewing.
Apparently dental technicians make some decent films–who knew?
The movie does have an interesting “vibe”. It is probably the most low-key horror movie I have seen. I think there is a valid comparison to Carpenter’s Halloween, particularly with the music cues, but also the slow pacing and bare bones plot. The lackadaisical pacing also reminded me of a film from 2010, Monsters, having to do with surviving an alien invasion. That film was as much about tone as it was story.
Two things that bothered me about the movie were…
One, its resemblance to The Ring, in that it involved a curse that could only be removed by passing it on to another. Two, that they did not think of the end “solution” sooner. Understanding the rules of the curse they way they did, it should have been obvious how to deal with it.
I never really considered any similarities to The Ring but I guess I can agree they are both really really rich in tone and atmosphere. And, please forgive my stoopid, but by end “solution” are you referring to the whole swimming pool scheme? Even after having watched it several times now, I’m not sure what, if any “logic” they used to come up with that plan, and it it didn’t work any way, right? If you have a different insight into it I’d love to hear it.
[Spoiler]having her sleep with a guy friend and then having that guy sleep with a prostitute. The prostitute would then keep passing the curse on to a constant supply of men, who would then have their own chains of curse passing. They showed the Paul character cruising past a couple streetwalkers right before the end. In the next couple scenes he was at ease and not particularly situationally aware.
The movie never explained what the curse was or gave any clues on how it could be stopped or appeased, but they did make it perfectly clear the rules of passing it to another. If you had no idea on how to terminate the chain, yet still wanted to live, it seems only logical that you would find a way to create a very long chain, so that you would not have to worry about it coming back to you.[/Spoiler]
I think it’s interesting if you watch the film as the visual interpretation of someone’s dream. It gives more of an understanding of the atmosphere, the mixture of things from different eras, the technology (or lack of) etc.
A quick shout out for this little film. Its Twilight Zonish and very entertaining. If you are lookimg for horror you wont find it here but if you like this type of film it wont matter.
Okay, I don’t want to further the hijack but I don’t believe he slept with the prostitute(s). Just as I’m pretty sure Jay didn’t sleep with any of the dudes that were out on the lake. I think they both contemplated it, because as you say, giving it to someone who is likely to spread it quickly is about as close to a solution that you could get, but I don’t think they did. I believe that’s what’s supposed to make the ending ambiguous; is the figure following them at the end "it?
There’s a thread around here somewhere that we can resurrect if anyone is interested. To me, there is so much to be said about this film but I don’t want to harp on it here.
I just watched Trianagle. It is definitely bloody and definitely worth a viewing. One nag is that it is not always internally consistent–they cheat for effect at critical times. Regardless, it is a fun movie and has an ending the wraps things up in a satisfying manner.
This is a really 80’s film that some will like and others will hate. To say more will spoil. It is worth a view if you are a fan of 80s culture or the slasher genre.
I dont know if you have ever seen Law and Order:Criminal Intent but the lead actress in Triangle is a dead ringer for actress Olivia D’Abo. Ms D’Abo plays the fascinating yet psychopathic character Nicole Wallace who is almost deserving of a horror movie of her own.
This is a fun series to kind of binge watch / veg out to. One may start off thinking it’s typical cheesy paranormal experience stuff (which I guess it technically is) but there’s actually something very compelling about it.
If anyone likes older movies and hasn’t seen it, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte is classic Bette Davis. Not to mention the outstanding Olivia DeHaviland and a super fun performance by Agnes “Endora” Moorehead. I remember seeing it for the first time as a child and just being . . . chilled to the bone.
A soon to be classic that is one of the best horror films I have seen. Very good in every respect. You will probably be watching this one more than once.
Seconded. Was over at a friends house for a sleepover when we were nine and watched this. Freaked me the hell out. Great film. The backstory is just as interesting. Joan Crawford was supposed to play the de Haviland role but was fired.
