Island Of Lost Souls (1974/Prison Drama)
Picture: C-
Sound: C Extras: C- Film: D
Not to be confused with the H.G. Welles film or book of
the same name, no matter how bad either of the later two Island Of Dr.
Moreau films might have been, René Cardona’s Island Of Lost Souls is
a very bad, badly dubbed and obnoxious drama about an island-bound prison where
the prisoners are tortured and worse daily.
Though Cardona has done some odd films, all were more watchable than
this.
This one was based on a popular book by Jose Leon Sanchez,
while The Island Of Lonely Men was the title in the trailer, so is the
change a matter of homophobia, sensationalism or both? No matter what they title, there is nothing
gay here, but there is also plenty of corruption and mutilation. The production values are odd and the film
gets tired very quickly.
The letterboxed 1.85 X 1 image is soft, from a print with
some better color than expected, but softness and agedness throughout
otherwise. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
is dubbed, but not all the way, with English translations disappearing within
the last reel or two of the film! The
English dubbing is too forward, as is the music, which includes the prisoners
playing music that sounds like it is including a kazoo! The combination is odd and makes for a
unique presentation. Extras include
trailers to this and four other VCI titles, plus text on some of the cast and
director.
- Nicholas Sheffo
