The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that it's inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

H.G. Wells (novel), Richard Stanley (screenplay),

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, David Thewlis

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlon Brando	...	Dr. Moreau
Val Kilmer	...	Montgomery
David Thewlis	...	Edward Douglas
Fairuza Balk	...	Aissa
Daniel Rigney	...	Hyena-Swine
Temuera Morrison	...	Azazello
Nelson de la Rosa	...	Majai
Peter Elliott	...	Assassimon
Mark Dacascos	...	Lo-Mai
Ron Perlman	...	Sayer of the Law
Marco Hofschneider	...	M'Ling
Miguel López	...	Waggdi
Neil Young	...	Boar Man
David Hudson	...	Bison Man
Clare Grant	...	Fox Lady

Storyline

Set in the year 2010, Dr. Moreau has successfully combined human and animal DNA to make a crossbreed animal. Well, as usual, something goes wrong and David Thewlis must try to stop it before it is too late. Originally rated R, but cut by Frankenheimer to allow "a wider audience".

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Plot Keywords:

island | experiment gone wrong | muu muu | goth | homosexual subtext | 

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Taglines:

The gates of hell are unlocked.

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence, horror and gore involving mutant creatures

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Indonesian

Release Date:

23 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

La isla del Dr. Moreau

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

JPY 295,581,200 (Japan) (15 November 1996)

Gross:

JPY 338,920,000 (Japan) (22 November 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 99 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Val Kilmer described the shoot as "crazy". Marlon Brando was still recovering from the suicide of his daughter and the day production started the French set off an underwater atomic bomb near Tahiti where Brando owned an atoll. Then Kilmer learned that he was getting divorced when he turned on the TV. Two days later the director Richard Stanley was fired by the studio due to their concerns over the direction of the film. John Frankenheimer was then hired to replace Stanley but from the start clashed with Brando, Kilmer, and studio executives regarding the direction of the film.

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Goofs

Montgomery's shirt, when he is ripping pages out of a book, is blue. However, When Azazello takes the gun from his hunting vest, his shirt is white

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Quotes

Sayer of the Law: To go on two legs is very hard. Perhaps four is better, anyway.

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Connections

Featured in 100 höjdare: Efterkrigstidens uslaste ögonblick (2006)

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Soundtracks

"3 Thoughts"
Written and arranged by Blixa Bargeld, Mark Chung, F. M. Einheit, Alexander Hacke & N. U. Unruh (Copyright Freibank Music)
Performed by Einsturzende Neubauten

User Reviews

To go on two legs is very hard

I'm not sure if that is the exact quote from the movie, but I think altogether too many reviewers of this film go on four. I really enjoyed this move for its story, the acting and the way it conveyed its many messages. One guy even had the gall to describe it as a bad Jurassic Park. Now that was a bad movie. Great special effects for the time perhaps but a paper thin story that failed to explore its subject and the implications thereof. This movie makes no such mistake. It explores themes of what it means to be human, whether ends justify means, and what is moral or immoral from different perspectives. It even explores the nature of good and evil to some degree. There are far too few movies, especially these days, that have this kind of depth and leave you, ultimately, to be the judge. Yes, it is disturbing; its meant to be. Yes, it is dark; its meant to be. It makes you think and leaves and indelible impression. It certainly has its flaws but if you can see past them, then perhaps you go on two legs, even though its hard.