After being mugged by King (Oliver Reed) and his gang in London, American tourist Simon Wells (Macdonald Carey) is later visited on his boat by King's sister (Shirley Anne Field), who feels bad for Wells and regrets having lured him to the gang in the first place. She is invited onto the boat and later escapes with Wells when the gang shows up again. Violent, jealous, overprotective King vows to kill Wells as soon as he steps foot on land again. They debark on an island featuring a military establishment and when King eventually finds them, the trio are found by a group of strange, cold-skinned children who are part of some kind of experiment.
This is almost like two films, starting as a juvenile delinquent-type of thing, complete with oft-repeated rock 'n roll tune, then getting into an almost sci-fi-like feeling. But it works, as everything is grounded in reality. It's a Hammer film and feels like one, with a blend of sweet and sour. The performances were all very good, including that of Viveca Lindfors as a sculptor. Her role was the least necessary, but still interesting, and helped advance the stories of the other characters. Alexander Knox was also good as a Big Brother type.
I watched this to see more of Joseph Losey's work but would've enjoyed it regardless of who helmed it. Quite an interesting experience.
This is almost like two films, starting as a juvenile delinquent-type of thing, complete with oft-repeated rock 'n roll tune, then getting into an almost sci-fi-like feeling. But it works, as everything is grounded in reality. It's a Hammer film and feels like one, with a blend of sweet and sour. The performances were all very good, including that of Viveca Lindfors as a sculptor. Her role was the least necessary, but still interesting, and helped advance the stories of the other characters. Alexander Knox was also good as a Big Brother type.
I watched this to see more of Joseph Losey's work but would've enjoyed it regardless of who helmed it. Quite an interesting experience.