Island of Terror

[Gerry]

I taped this Peter Cushing movie off of AMC a few weeks ago and finally got around to watching it.  It was really good!  Sure the monsters were goofy (ala Dr. Who), but the suspense was pretty good and the story was quite clever.  Plus it didn't pull any punches.  I especially liked it when Peter Cushing asks his co-star (can't remember the name) to cut off his (Peter's) hand with an axe to save his life.  It also had Niall McGuinness (Curse of the Demon--great actor) in the role of the town manager.  And the chick was really hot.  Her role was kind of superfluous, but she was really nice to look at.  The plot moved along nicely.  It was pretty clever how they finally defeated the monsters.  Plus it had a great "they'll be back" ending.

Very cool 60s Brit horror.  If you haven't already seen it, check it out when you get a chance.

[Steve.]

Gerry - If you liked "IOT", you will almost certainly like "Night of the Big Heat". It was made around the same time, with an "alien" storyline. As well as the late, great Peter Cushing it also features Christopher Lee.

[Gerry]

Is that an alternate title for Island of the Burning Doomed?  AMC played that one as well, and I tried to tape it, but ended up missing part of it so I taped over it.  Damn it!  I'll just have to pray that AMC plays it again someday.

[Steve.]

I am almost certain that is the US title - there are so many movies with alternate titles, it makes it hard to keep track. One of the best examples is our very own (Brit) "Witchfinder General" - a nasty (But very good) horror movie with Vincent Price. It was released in the US as "The Conqueror Worm" - trying to imply a (non-existent) connection with Edgar Alan Poe, because of all the Poe adaptations Price had recently starred in.

[Gerry]

I taped The Conquerer Worm on AMC as well (I love AMC), but haven't gotten around to watching it yet.  I'm glad to hear it's good.  I'll have to bump it up on my to-watch list.

[BoyScoutKevin]

I wonder when someone would get around to posting something on the "Island of Terror" on this board. A good "bad" movie, but the inhabitants of the island, have to be some of the stupidest people ever seen in a horror film or any film for that matter. For example: If you are scared of the creatures, why stand in the middle of the room, where you can be farther away from them. No, stand next to an outside wall, so you can be closer to them. And be sure to stand next to a window, so they can get to you more easier. Another example: When you know they are on the roof, be sure to stand under a skylight, so when they fall through the skylight, they can be sure to fall on you. More examples, but we will let these two surfice for now. As I said, a good "bad" movie. I liked the ending, too.

[Gerry]

You're absolutely right about the people being stupid.  When the monsters are attacking be sure to gather together in one location so they can eat you more easily.  Despite the fact that you can walk away from them at their top speed.  All the islanders would have had to do was keep walking until help arrived the next morning.

I loved it when the monsters divided as well.  Was that Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup that came out of their insides?

[Andrew]

Don't know why I didn't bring this up earlier, but Dr. Freex recently fought through a bad case of writer's block and reviewed this film.  I enjoyed it myself, between the one silicate dropping out of the tree and of course the chicken noodle soup:

Dr. Freex reviews "Island of Terror"

Andrew