There are a lot of movies making their way to DVD these days
from companies that are offering them in the best format possible with some
interesting extras as well. I’ve spoken about the fact that Arrow Video seems
to be a company determined to release many of these movies in a format that
compares to Criterion except when it comes to their costs. Are all of the
movies great? By all means no. But that doesn’t discount the historical or fan
based needs for these films. While they may not be everyone’s favorites enough
people are out there who will enjoy them enough for their release.
With that in mind I just finished ISLAND OF THE DEAD. In
viewing the extras director Nico Mastorakis is said to have seen the movie
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE in a theater with a friend and then set out to make a
movie of his own with the goal of offending as many people as possible.
Considering the release of this movie was 1976 I think he accomplished his
goal. Many movies have since surpassed this for being offensive or outrageous
but for 1976 this would have rankled more than a few censors.
The film starts with a couple arriving on a small Greek
island for an apparent vacation. It doesn’t take long for us to find out that
Christopher is actually a serial killer on the lam and Celia is knowingly with
him on the run. The couple meets a very stereotypically gay character who
invites them to his wedding later that night. They check into a place he
recommends and then head out to discover the island. While doing so, Christopher calls his mother
on the phone to make her listen while he has sex with Celia in the phone booth
in public. Unfortunately the police have tapped her phone and one dedicated officer
heads their way.
But honestly the phone booth sequence is one of the tamest
items on Mastorakis’ list. The movie plays as a series of small adventures the
couple go through as they go from spot to spot on the island, deal with that
dedicated officer and the end result of their journey. Rather than describe
each incident here are the items that occur at one point or another during the
movie: incest, nailing a man to a concrete slab, having sex with a goat and
then killing the goat (I’m guessing because he was afraid the goat might tell
someone?), urination on someone, heroin use, lesbian sex scene, forcing a gay
man to place a pistol in his mouth, several killings, rape (both sexes) and a
few other items. While some of these things take place in other films one can
only imagine the shocked expressions of various film boards in 1976 when this
film was screened.
In the end does the movie offer an evening of entertainment?
I for one would have to say not at all. While not near as shocking today as it
was when released, it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth after viewing it.
It also leaves you wondering what was the point in watching this? If it was
indeed just an attempt to shock and offend people then the director succeeded
in his goal. Why that would be someone’s goal is beyond me. With TEXAS CHAINSAW
at least there was a story being told. It also didn’t go to the extremes that
this film does.
Does the film need to be released on blu-ray now for any
other reason? I would say yes. Fans of the film will want the best copy they
can find. Historians of film having lost so many to deterioration and the like
are always glad to find any and all films saved in one format or another. Arrow
also does another fine job with their extras including an interview with the
director and a documentary about his films.
If you’re a gore hound, if you like movies that are filled
with shock value, if you collect odd films, if you are not easily offended then
perhaps you’ll enjoy this movie. For the majority of people out there I think
you’d do better to stick with the more popular fare being offered.
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