Zombie Island Massacre (1984)

Director:

John N. Carter

Writers:

David Broadnax (story)
Logan O'Neill (screenplay)

Release Date:

November 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

HAVE A FUN-FILLED VACATION! Toe-Tapping Machete Head Dances! Glamourous Zombie-Style Cosmetic Surgery! Fabulous Air-Conditioned Tiger Pits!

Plot:

Americans on vacation in the Caribbean take a tour of a nearby island at night and watch a local voodoo ritual. Soon after, they find themselves stranded on the island and under attack by unseen foes. One by one they meet violent ends.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Voodoo | Breasts | Blood | Zombie

Cast

David Broadnax	...	Paul
Rita Jenrette	...	Sandy
Tom Cantrell	...	Steve
Diane Clayre Holub	...	Connie
George Peters	...	Whitney
Ian McMillan	...	Joe
Dennis Stephenson	...	Tour Guide
Debbie Ewing	...	Helen
Kristina Marie Wetzel	...	Barbie
Harriet Rawlings	...	Ethel
Christopher Ferris	...	Matt
Ralph Monaco	...	Jerry
Deborah Jason	...	Donna
Tom Fitzsimmons	...	Ed
Bruce Sterman	...	Hogan

Also Known As:

The Last Picnic (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min | Canada:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Big Hit (1998)

Soundtrack:

Di Reggae Picnic

Zombie-less Island-Mess

Generally, I'm a huge fan of Troma films. Troma movies are just for people with a certain affection for trash and exploitation, of course, and many of them are over-all pretty silly, but they are all somehow highly entertaining, original and memorable. At least that's what applies to every Troma movie I've seen, EXCEPT John N. Carter's "Zombie Island Massacre" of 1984. While even the sillier Troma Movies I had seen, before I saw this, were entertaining in their own way, "Zombie Island Massacre" is just plain boring.

The movie is, of course, silly, but, as mentioned above, I don't mind the silliness. "Zombie Island Massacre", however, does not have any of the great qualities that make Troma flicks special and memorable. Neither is it gruesome, disturbing and ultra-violent as "Blood Sucking Freaks" nor is it demented as "Mother's Day" or hilarious as "The Toxic Avenger". These three movies are probably Troma's most famous films, of course, but "Zombie Island Massacre" does not even compare to any of the lesser-known Troma flicks I've seen. The only elements "Zombie Island Massacre" shares with many other Troma flicks are the negative ones - A thin plot and bad acting - without featuring any of the many great elements Troma's, usually wonderfully demented films normally provide.

Furthermore, I can't stop wondering who was responsible for the title "Zombie Island Massacre". The film takes place on an Island, all right, but there is not a single Zombie in the entire movie. Some people are talking about Zombies in the movie, but that's it. Furthermore, I would have wished to see some more people massacred. A few people are killed of course, but this film having the word "massacre" in its title is a daring exaggeration.

Anyhow, the movie, has a few (very few) funny moments, but I was disappointed in spite of its bad reputation. Even hardcore Troma fans should consider twice before wasting one and a half hours on this movie, since it does not deliver any of the great, demented qualities Troma usually stands for. 2/10