17 Years Ago, This Time-Bending Sci-Fi Gem Rivaled Christopher Nolan's Finest Works
This movie is a smart, merciless puzzle that leaves you looking at the world with anxiety.
In 2009, just as Christopher Nolan was preparing to dazzle the world with the complex plot of Inception, the British-Australian movie Triangle was released. And its intellectual audacity, impeccable plot, and philosophical depth rival those of the renowned director's work.
Triangle is a masterfully constructed labyrinth in which every detail matters and the final solution turns one's perception of everything seen on its head.
What Is 'Triangle' About?
Exhausted from caring for her son, young single mother Jess accepts an invitation from her friend Greg to spend the day on his yacht with his friends. The idyllic outing turns into a nightmare when a sudden storm capsizes the boat.
The survivors cling to the hull and spot the gigantic ocean liner on the horizon. Hoping for rescue, they board the ship, but find it completely deserted.
It soon becomes clear that they are not alone – a mysterious masked figure begins hunting them. As Jess investigates, she realizes she is trapped in a cruel time loop.
'Triangle' Is One of the Best Representatives of the Time Loop Sci-Fi Subgenre
While many movies use the time loop concept as a convenient plot device for action or comedy, Triangle approaches it with unprecedented rigor and ingenuity.
Director and screenwriter Christopher Smith creates a complex, multilayered system where each iteration builds upon the previous one. Viewers, along with the main character, must piece together the puzzle, noting the smallest details that are key to understanding the trap's structure.
Triangle masterfully plays with perception, forcing us to constantly reconsider Jess' motives and the nature of the loop itself. This elevates the concept from a science fiction convention to a personal, mythological curse.
'Triangle' Brilliantly Mixes Sci-Fi and Horror, Keeping Viewers on the Edge of Their Seats
The tension here stems from mounting existential dread and paranoia, not cheap jump scares. The sense of claustrophobia and hopelessness is heightened by the dark, surreal atmosphere of the empty liner and is as oppressive as the stranger stalking the characters.
The sci-fi element is not just a backdrop, it is the driving force of this horror. The realization that the cycle is inevitable and your every action is predetermined and recorded is far more terrifying than any monster.
Triangle grips you until the very finale, which features one of the most elegant, logical, and shocking plot twists in cinematic history.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Triangle'?
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Triangle has 78% from critics and 66% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.9/10.
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On Letterboxd, Triangle scored 3.3/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Triangle'?
Triangle is available to stream on Tubi.
