Le triangle du diable

The seventies was probably the best time for made for TV horror and many of the horror films made for TV during the decade are excellent films; Scream Pretty Peggy, Summer of Fear and Dying Room Only being among the best that I've seen. Satan's Triangle is a spooky little thriller that focuses on one of the world's greatest wonders; that being the Bermuda Triangle. The plot focuses on the only female survivor of a shipwreck and two helicopter pilots who go out to rescue her and find themselves stranded inside the dreaded triangle. The film creates a good atmosphere and this is complimented by the mysterious plot that never really reveals itself until the ending. Director Sutton Roley succeeds in creating suspense throughout and the movie always has enough to keep the viewer interested. Kim Novak is the lead actress and stands out among a small but talented cast. The film is only short, running at just over sixty minutes, and as such; there isn't really time for it to build into anything too spectacular, but Satan's Triangle provides the mystery and suspense for the duration and it's worth seeing if you can get hold of it.

I saw this TV movie when I was just a kid still, and remarkably, I still remember the ending to this day. Just goes to show what an impression the twist ending must have made on me...

I'm so happy that I was able to find this again after so many years - thanks to streaming services. (Would have loved to obtain this on DVD or even Blu Ray!). The film sees coast guards Pagnolini (Michael Conrad) and Haig (Doug McClure) responding to a distress call coming from the centre of the Bermuda Triangle - or Devil's Triangle or Satan's Triangle, as it is also known.

Arriving there, they find a yacht, seemingly abandoned and visibly battered from a severe storm. When Haig goes on board, he discovers bodies, and a lone survivor. The film then follows the survivor's telling of what happened. I found it compelling from beginning to end. The film has a simple premise, and is set almost entirely on the yacht.

The performances are good, and Alejandro Rey delivered a creepy performance as Father Peter Martin. Oh, and I absolutely love that twist ending I so fondly remembers!!

Would I watch it again? Yes, for sure.

I'm finding Satan's Triangle a difficult one to summarize without giving too much away. The story involves a botched rescue attempt on a yacht in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. The sole survivor, Eva (Kim Novak), spends the night relaying the mystery and horror of what happened to her fellow passengers to Coast Guardsman Lt Haig (Doug McClure). Haig believes he has a rational explanation for everything, but is he right or are there evil forces at work?

Man, do I ever love these 70s made-for-TV movies! Satan's Triangle might not be the best of the bunch, but it's a good one. It's one of those movies, though, that you have to stick with. The middle part can get a bit dry. I was half-tempted to turn it off, but decided to stick it out. And what a good choice that was! The payoff at the end is fantastic. The twist in the final few minutes completely caught me off guard and made the whole thing a memorable and rewarding experience. It's a haunting, surprising, and amazing finale that sticks with you long after you've finished watching.

Even though I've described much of Satan's Triangle as "dry", Kim Novak really does a good job in these scenes with what she has to work with. Her somber recollections are chilling. When she says, "there's no way off this damn boat", you believe her. It's just so delightfully creepy. I also very much enjoyed Alehandro Rey as the priest in Eva's story. Rey's acting range throughout the film is impressive.

6/10

This classic TV movie is set around the Bermuda Triangle and involving a deserted ship, a helicopter and various other sinister goings on.

Superb acting and atmosphere make this a grade A sleeper.

I saw it once. Age 13 during June 1985 on RTE 1 - sadly we had no VCR at the time so it remains lost in the mists of time. 8/10

Positively terrifying supernatural mystery is set in the foreboding waters of the Bermuda Triangle, where a small pleasure craft is found adrift with its crew dead, save for one female. She educes the details of the seemingly impossible situation which gave rise to this tragedy, but there may be a ring of deceit to her story. Is Satan himself a Bermuda Triangle resident, possessing the bodies of the dead in an evil quest to lure more and more fresh souls to their watery graves?

Good performances by Novak and McClure, a highly effective score, and a terrifying story propel this one above the average for its type. Too, the at-sea setting effects an eerie atmosphere of helplessness and impending doom.

A spine-tingling gem that is recalled fondly by those that saw it in the day(many still have nightmares of the closing moment's ghastly freeze-frame image), but it now seems sadly lost to oblivion along with a great many other "Movie of the Week" entries. Perhaps a smart-thinking' distributor will start turning out these forgotten little jewels on DVD. Anyone listening?

7/10