ISLAND OF TERROR (1966)
I have a nagging headache, but I simply must tell you about this daffy sci-fi/horror cakewalk. Island of Terror pits Peter Cushing against a roving band of silicates. What are silicates? They are amoeboid (that's a word, I swear) lifeforms that feed on calcium. In essence, they drink your bones and leave you a ropy mess of flesh. It's a fairly brutal death, and I have to heap praises on the special effects department for devising charmingly grotesque models of the jelly-like victims. Needless to say, the film has a grim tone. I would comment on the cast, but aside from Cushing, no one really stands out. I'm not complaining, mind you. Island of Terror is a bit of an ensemble picture, and as such, a few of the faces are interchangeable. Likewise, a few of the accents are unintelligible.
For those interested, our amorphous antagonists were created in a laboratory to eat cancer cells. At times, I was reminded of The Green Slime. Regrettably, the silicates do not come equipped with their own theme song. This flick was directed by the ever-dependable Terence Fisher. Sandwiched in between Frankenstein Created Woman and Dracula: Prince of Darkness, it has the feel of a lost Hammer production. The pace is rather prompt, save for a dead spot here and there. For example, I don't think we needed lingering shots of the scientists slipping into full-body condoms...I mean, radiation suits. But hey, it is what it is. Recommended to fans of bread pudding.
No comments:
Post a Comment