It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987)

The mutant babies have been placed by court order on a deserted island. Appalled by the cycnicism and exploitation of the children by the legal system and the media, the man responsible for... See full summary »

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writers:

Larry Cohen, Larry Cohen (based on characters created by)

Stars:

Michael Moriarty, Karen Black, Laurene Landon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Moriarty	...	Stephen Jarvis
Karen Black	...	Ellen Jarvis
Laurene Landon	...	Sally
James Dixon	...	Lt. Perkins
Gerrit Graham	...	Ralston
Macdonald Carey	...	Judge Watson
Neal Israel	...	Dr. Brewster (as Neal Isreal)
Art Lund	...	Dr. Swenson
Ann Dane	...	Dr. Morrell
William Watson	...	Cabot
C.L. Sussex	...	Hunter
Patch Mackenzie	...	Robbins
Rick Garia	...	Tony
Carlos Palomino	...	First Cuban
Tony Abatemarco	...	Second Cuban

Storyline

The mutant babies have been placed by court order on a deserted island. Appalled by the cycnicism and exploitation of the children by the legal system and the media, the man responsible for them leads an expedition to the island to free them.

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Plot Keywords:

island | baby | mutant baby | mutant | nipples visible through clothing | 

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Taglines:

The It's Alive! babies are back.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

It's Alive 3: Island of the Alive

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Larco Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 91 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Sally sleeps with Stephen and then discovers he fathered one of the mutant babies made some people think it was a reference to HIV. "It was fully intended." He thinks horror movies are ideal for adding serious commentary while still maintaining the entertainment value.

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Goofs

Cabot's helicopter has a different paint job than the unconvincing model of the helicopter which explodes after it takes off from the island.

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Quotes

Stephen Jarvis: You guys are taking a hell of a risk.
Second Cuban: they wouldn't pay any attention to us what we have to say.
First Cuban: We're commies.
Second Cuban: You're Just a lunatic.
Stephen Jarvis: should I tell them how I got here?
First Cuban: They wouldn't believe that.
Stephen Jarvis: Why are you doing this?
Second Cuban: Haven't you heard? We're human beings.
Stephen Jarvis: you know some people might want to know about that
First Cuban: No they wouldn't.
[...]

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Connections

References Entertainment Tonight (1981)

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Soundtracks

If I Told You
Written by David Shapiro and Lauri Riley
Performed by David Shapiro
© 1986 Seven Stones Songs

User Reviews

Third time the charm

Third time was the charm of sorts for Larry Cohen. The first It's Alive film was interesting, the second I thought stupid. But in Island Of The Alive Cohen found the tone he should have used for the two preceding films and the right actor to set the tone.

Michael Moriarty and Karen Black play a parents of the latest mutant baby and Moriarty goes to court on a preventive strike to win his kid's life. He does, but it and some other mutants are placed on a Caribbean island in exile to be studied to find a solution to a growing problem.

Moriarty with his swaggering style dominates this film. The writers took special care of him with the script and he delivers their lines at his sarcastic best. The film takes a couple of real good jabs at contemporary America of the Reagan era.

Sad the film's antecedents retard its ratings. But this is clearly the best of the series. If another is done, hopefully it will be in the same vein.