Isle of the Damned

Isle of the Damned opens with a few words about the film and it's director, Antonello Giallo. I was very interested, since Isle of the Damned was "Banned in 492 Countries" & is a "1980 cult classic" available "For the first time in North America"...I know that only because the poster told me so. And while it's clear the whole back story is a gimmick, it's a gimmick executed pretty well. Apparently a work print of Giallo's Isle of the Damned was intercepted by Argentinean authorities, who upon review issued an arrest warrant for Giallo for suspicion of abuse to native peoples. Giallo was ordered to produce the actors of the film in court in order to prove they were still alive (A not so subtle, but appreciated nod to Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust). Before the film starts, a warning flashes on the screen claiming the film contains REAL footage of bizarre primitive rituals. It continues, "if cannibalistic depravity upsets you...leave the theatre immediately!" At this point, I'm loving the homage to 70's Italian cannibal films and excited to get into the meat of it. Finally, the whine of 70's synthesizers over the scratched & worn Dire Wit Films & Giallo Filma Internazionale titles would make Fabio Frizzi giddy.



















Here is a quick synopsis from the website: "Private investigator Jack Steele is hired by a mysterious treasure hunter to help find the lost treasure of Marco Polo. Along for the trip is Jack's adopted son, Billy. Their search brings them to an island off the coast of Argentina... and into the clutches of a primitive cannibal tribe, the Yamma Yamma. Alexis Kinkaid, a mysterious recluse who has made his home on the island amongst the cannibals, may hold the key to unlocking the island's secret... if they don't end up in the belly of a savage first!"

The film continues with the worn & scratched look as the main characters (most sporting bad wigs and or fake facial hair) journey into the cannibal filled jungle, in search of treasure. The characters are badly dubbed as in many Italian films from the 70's. What follows is bad acting, bad dialogue & gore. Isle of the Damned delivers gore in spades. Penis severing, check. Piranha attack, check. Exploding head, check. Torso ripping, check...It goes on and on and it's over the top for sure, but it looks pretty good. Also I didn't know cannibal tribes were so interested in sodomy...apparently they are, big time. I have made a mental note of that...no jungle vacation for me. Isle of the Damned is silly fun, period. It's goofy and never claims or tries to be serious. I'm really not much of a fan of parodies in general because it's so difficult to get them right. Isle of the Damned does look decent technically, it's lit well, edited well and shot well. In a sea of true low budget - indie horror films, Isle is a clear standout, made by a group of talented folks. I can't help but wonder what this crew could have done if they 86'd the wigs and over the top dubbing in favor of something darker and more serious.



















I briefly mentioned the music at the start of Isle, which continued to be strong throughout. I loved it and it fit perfectly into the feel of the film.

For more info, check out Dire Wit Films. These guys are bringing Isle out to a handful of cities, including: Calgary, Canada / Baltimore, MD / Cambridge, MA and a few more. The DVD will be available March 31st. Keep your eye on Dire Wit Films, I would not be surprised if they became a major player in the indie horror scene.