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
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