The Island (1980)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writers:

Peter Benchley (novel)
Peter Benchley (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 June 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

For 300 years, a terrifying secret has been kept from the outside world.

Plot:

David Warner leads a band of modern day pirates who raid yachts and sail boats of people on vacation out in the Caribbean...

Plot Keywords:

Boat | Pirate | Modern Pirate | Survival Horror | Child Killing Child

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 19

5:00 AM

MAX

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Blair Maynard
David Warner	...	John David Nau
Angela Punch McGregor	...	Beth
Frank Middlemass	...	Windsor
Don Henderson	...	Rollo
Dudley Sutton	...	Dr. Brazil
Colin Jeavons	...	Hizzoner
Zakes Mokae	...	Wescott
Brad Sullivan	...	Stark
Jeffrey Frank	...	Justin Maynard
John O'Leary	...	Doctor #1
Bruce McLaughlin	...	Doctor #2
Jimmy Casino	...	Doctor #3
Suzanne Astor	...	Mrs. Burgess
Susan Bredhoff	...	Kate

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14 (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Norway:15 (uncut) (2009) (DVD premiere) | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:16 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Anthony Hopkins was asked to play the lead

Quotes:

Beth: What's that?
Blair Maynard: It's a drug called cocaine.
Beth: What does it cure?
Blair Maynard: Insecurity.

Movie Connections:

References Superman (1978)

Here we have a GOOD bad movie!

I wasn't sure what to expect with THE ISLAND. One critic thought it was smelly fish chum and another thought it was a great modern-day pirate story. I originally thought it was a sea creature story like Jaws.

I was thrilled to watch it this morning and discover that it is that rare breed of a film: so much is wrong like bad dialog & unlikely situations, bad acting from every single extra in the film (casting call at the community college everybody!!), kid turns WAY too quickly against dad but dad is probably the most incompetent dad you'll see (hey, this is much better than Disneyland...hired the worst pilot on the face of the planet because you're too cheap to pay for a boat and now held captive in a 3rd world nation. Thanks dad!), cheezy violence, that music that plays during the violent ship attacks would work for Errol Flynn but not here.

But it's films of this badness that can be more fun than so-called great films. Especially the first time you watch them. I'm the type that seeks out films like Bad Taste, Hysterical, Evil Dead and The Island because they go against the copycat stream of Hollywood films.

NOTE: I would've spanked that kid within an inch of his life and I don't even believe in physical punishment of children. I think we all agree here! LOL