SATAN'S TRIANGLE

US, 1975, 74 minutes, Colour.
Kim Novak, Doug Mc Clure, Alejandro Rey, Jim Davis, Ed Lauter.
Directed by Sutton Roley.

Satan's Triangle is yet another exploration of the Bermuda Triangle mystery disappearances of ships. There have been some thrillers, documentaries, attempted scientific explanations. A bizarre explanation was given in Peter Benchley's The Island, filmed by Michael Ritchie. Descendants of pirates were the answer.

This film is more in the occult vein of the '70s and echoes The Exorcist and other films. Kim Novak gives yet another attractive non-performance. Doug McClure? is a burly hero. There is quite a good supporting cast.

1. The mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, audience curiosity, superstition? A satisfying presentation for home viewing?

2. The impact of the telemovie: content, style, explanations?

3. The background of the Coast Guard,, ships? A documentary atmosphere of realism? The storm and the aspects of fantasy?

4. The mystery of the ship at the beginning, the logical explanation given by Haig, the puzzles and the final mysteries? What was the audience left with? Puzzle, explanation, mystery? How satisfying?

5. The introduction of Pagnolini and Haig, their friendly style, the introduction to each character and the way this was used throughout the film? Atmosphere of reality after the ugliness of the storm and the initial deaths?

6. The Mayday, the exploration of the ship by Haig, the discovery of the bodies and of Eva? Audience curiosity about what had happened?

7. Kim Novak's presence, style (non-acting)? Eva's presence on the boat, her friendship with the fisherman, her story of herself as prostitute? Her memories of what happened and the description of these? Haigh taking her back and explaining each of the deaths? her attempted seduction of the priest? The erotic sequences between herself and Haigh - and the later irony of her being possessed by the Devil? The rescue, her presence on the helicopter, the irony of her being possessed?

8. The fisherman and his ruthlessness in wanting to bring in the marlin, not rescue the priest, the irony of his death with the marlin? The captain and his decisions, his greed, death with his money? The crew and their escaping and abandoning the ship, the crewman and his drinking and his being knocked overboard?

9. The mysterious appearance of Father Martin - dressed in clerical garb and floating on the sea, his being rescued, his helping with the ship, the sending of the flare and the ugliness of his death? The irony of his taking over the body of Eva, his presentation on the helicopter? His being the Devil and finally taking over Haigh? How plausible this kind of character? The irony of the priest as the Devil?

10. Punulini and his seeing of Father Martin, his refusal to be possessed by the Devil? His death?

11. The device of the Devil taking over Haigh and his sinking the ship - further destruction in the Devil's Triangle?

12. The appeal of the occult films during the seventies? The implausibilities of their plots? The entertaining melodramatics? The atmosphere of superstition? Popular audiences and their suspension of disbelief?