severance

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of British director Christopher Smith's work. So, when First Look Pictures reached out to Horror Squad for the US release of Smith's third film, Triangle, I must admit; I kind of geeked out. We talked about everything from his forthcoming kids-as-spys film (that isn't exactly for kids), to his just-completed journey back to Medieval times in search of a plague-causing necromancer (Black Death), to Back to the Future, to what he'd do with a Creep 2. Oh, and, of course we talked about a twisted little enigma called Triangle, starring Melissa George as a woman trapped on an ocean liner, and out on DVD and Blu-ray today.

Horror Squad: How are you? How are things?

Christopher Smith: I just finished Black Death and I'm sitting in a coffee shop about to get on writing this kids film I've been working on for a number of years called CHERUB. It's kind of like a Rodriguez Spy Kids but not a big budget version; like a Shane Meadows Spy Kids movie. It's that kind of film. It's about a bunch of state kids working for the government, it's quite a cool film based on a series of books.

Horror Squad: Very cool, when's that going into production?

Christopher Smith: We're hoping to shoot in the summer. There's a big franchise of books in England called CHERUB and what it is is like a Nikita story. It's about a young kid from a broken family who suddenly realizes that he's an orphan and he's being cared for by the government. We're doing it quite realistically, so instead of the kids, ya' know, jumping out of helicopters and doing that, it's more about how the government uses kids in the same way drug dealers would use kids to traffic things. It's more Bourne Identity than it is James Bond.

Christopher Smith (Severance and Creep) is ready to release his necromancer delight Black Death to UK theaters in February, but US audiences can check out his psychological thriller, Triangle when it hits DVD and Blu-ray on February 2. The film was an official selection at ScreamFest 2009. We have an exclusive first look at the key set photos which you can check out after the jump.

When Jess sets sail on her friend Greg's (Michael Dorman, The Secret Life Of Us) yacht with a group of friends, she cannot shake the feeling that there is something wrong. Her suspicions are realized when the yacht hits a storm in the Bermuda Triangle and the group is forced to board a passing ocean liner to get to safety. The ship appears deserted, but Jess is convinced she's been on board before. They soon realize they are not alone and that someone is intent on hunting them down, one by one. Also starring Liam Hemsworth (The Elephant Princess, Knowing) and Emma Lung (Crush, Gates of Hell, Heist, House of Wax).

It's been a few years since we've had a good horror flick set on a sea vessel (the last being Stephen Sommer's cult classic Deep Rising), but I have faith that Smith can make this voyage a terrifying and unforgettable experience.