EvilEd recently mentioned Island of Terror [1966]. It's strange. Some film titles call to mind a whole string of movies and this is one of them. I had to look it up on Wiki to make sure I knew which film Ed meant and as soon as I read the description a flood of monstrous memories came back. Of course, the Silicates! Those oyster-like creatures with a penchant for bone marrow. Yuk!
I suppose there was a definate 'Island' genre in Sci -Fi. I can think of Doom Watch, Mysterious Island and Night of the Big Heat to name but a few. The drama of remote populations battling hordes of Hellspawn was simply irresistable! Horror films love islands too. One of the earliest I saw at Preston's Ritz or ABC was Tower of Evil sometime in the mid-Seventies. No doubt on in a double-bill but I can't remember the other film!
And the seperate genre of 'crawling creature' flicks had it's heyday in the 1950's and 60's. There was the Tingler, which fed on fear and the utterly yukky Fiend Without a Face, a sort of mobile brain slurper. I'm sure there are more. The Silicates of Island of Terror remind me of the rock monsters encountered by the crew of Zero-X on Mars. 'Rock Monsters', another genre!
Are there any more scary Islands, rock monsters or gelatinous creatures crawling around?
Perhaps the earliest example is H.G> wells's "Island of Dr Moreau" which was ahead of its time. I know there are films of it, not sure if they are any good, though.
ReplyDeleteFunny but I have no problem resisting when it comes to watching remote populations battling hordes of Hellspawn. Maybe it's just me? (smiles)
ReplyDelete"Are there any more scary Islands, rock monsters or gelatinous creatures crawling around?"
ReplyDelete... if there are (locks gun barrel into place) then they better have backup!
Not exactly an Island I know, but since we are mentioning "gelatinous creatures crawling around", I have to say I too was reminded of "Fiend Without A Face", starring Marshall Thompson of "Daktari" fame.
ReplyDeleteSome parts in that film scared me to death as a young mucker...I won't include any spoilers incase anyone wants to watch it for the first time.
Then of course, there is "This Island Earth"...another classic!
Might "The Lost World" count too? Afterall, that plateau was virtually an Island...but if you want another real one then "Skull Island" must be on the list and "The Hounds of Zaroff".
A veritable archipelago of island flicks there EvilEd! All choice cuts for sure. "This Island Earth" takes the genre into space - that Metaluna Mutant scared the bejeebers outa me as a kid, itself the inspiration behind that rarest of 1960's toys in the UK, ORBITRON, the pink brain-swelled alien from Colorforms Outer Space Men. As for "Lost World" I agree Ed. "Skull Island"? - is that the des res of one K.Kong? And "The Hounds of Zaroff", I'll be checking that one out today in MediLab 1! Nice one.
ReplyDeleteAnd Andy, The Island of Dr. Moreau was on TV late one night this week. Spooky! I love HG Wells. My favourite short story is "The Cone" about dastardly deeds at a steel forge. Very atmospheric. He was the Dickens of Sci Fi.
ReplyDeleteAlmost forgot...the "Jurassic Park" films...more recent I know but with an "Island" setting.
ReplyDelete"The Wicker Man" too!
And in the "Ghost" genre, how about "The Woman In Black"? Eel Marsh House is to all intents and purposes an island when the causeway is flooded!
Yep, all suitably insular Ed. I love Michael Crichton's "theme park" settings. The first one I saw on the big screen was West World.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Eel Marsh House! But was there really any need for a remake of the 1989 Woman In Black movie? The original [on You Tube in 10 or so parts] is simply excellent and scary as hell. What do you think?
Well, I loved the original (ot has become part of my essential run up to Christmas week viewing) and I saw it on stage half a dozen times too and it was genuinely creepy and scary.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely watch the new version but I have a sneaking feeling from what I have read about it and from the trailers I have seen that this version shows "too much", if you know what I mean.
I don't want to give examples of what I mean as I don't want to ruin it for ant new prospective viewers but if you are familiar with the original and have seen the new trailers, I think you might know what I mean.