Bermuda Triangle (1996) starring Sam Behrens, Susanna Thompson, Lisa Jakub, David Gallagher, Jerry Hardin, Michael Reilly Burke, Naomi Watts directed by Ian Toynton Movie Review

Bermuda Triangle (1996)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Lisa Jakub in Bermuda Triangle (1996)

A Different Mysterious Island

As a child I had a fascination with the Bermuda Triangle, well I had a fascination with many of the iconic mysteries including the Loch Ness monster. Anyway it was out of that curiosity that I found myself watching the 1996 made for TV movie "Bermuda Triangle", well that and because I saw it also starred Naomi Watts and Lisa Jakub. What I watched had little to do with the Bermuda Triangle but more fantasy island where we have this community on a mystery island in another dimension where they have little dramas and adventures, if you like it is more akin to a children's adventure movie and honestly it is surprisingly entertaining.

Whilst on holiday boating in the Caribbean doctors John & Grace (Sam Behrens & Susanna Thompson) with their children Annie (Lisa Jakub - Mrs. Doubtfire) and Sam (David Gallagher) as well as their captain Michael (Michael Reilly Burke) find themselves coming across some strange weather before something sinks their boat. When they come to in the morning they find themselves on a sandy beach on an island in the middle of nowhere. But then they meet a man who calls himself Slick (Jerry Hardin) who drives them to the town with it's 58 residents and a mix of architecture where he tells them that they are in the Bermuda Triangle.

Jerry Hardin in Bermuda Triangle (1996)

So as to the plot, well to be frank there isn't a great deal of plot with most of it coming at the start when the family aboard the boat encounter the mysterious fog which surrounds the boat. When the set up is in place and they find themselves on the mysterious island we get lost of little stores rather than one complete narrative. So we have some drama as young Sam is diabetic and only has enough insulin to last 5 days, we have John and Michael trying to find away to leave but discover it is impossible and there is Grace who discovers the joy of swimming with dolphins.

The thing is that despite not much story it is still entertaining with plenty of little dramas, adventures as well as a selection of humorous characters. And that is where "Bermuda Triangle" succeeds because it is easy to warm to the characters despite them not having much depth. You get a sense that the various actors had fun making this movie in such a beautiful location and that certainly makes it a pleasure on the eyes. If it wasn't for the fact the movie takes place on a fictional island I would say it almost feels like one of those travelogue movies which work as tourist pieces.

What this all boils down to is that "Bermuda Triangle" is a curiosity as it doesn't have a lot of story or great characters but it is still an entertaining little adventure movie especially for young children.


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