The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

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

Directors:

John Frankenheimer, Richard Stanley (uncredited)

Writers:

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

Stars:

David Thewlis, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer

2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlon Brando	...	Dr. Moreau
Val Kilmer	...	Montgomery
David Thewlis	...	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 (as Miguel Lopez)
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:

mutant | animal experimentation | island | chimera | jungle | 

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Taglines:

On the sixth day, God created man. On the seventh day, He rested. And on the eighth...

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Genres:

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:

The Island of Dr. Moreau

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,101,987, 25 August 1996

Gross USA:

$27,663,982

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$49,627,779

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

Marlon Brando's performance as Dr. Moreau inspired the character of Dr. Alphonse Mephesto, a mad scientist with a dwarf sidekick, on South Park (1997). Dr. Mephesto bears a striking resemblance to Brando's appearance in his later career, his Hawaiian shirt owing to his life in Tahiti. His voice is also patterned after Brando. Although he frequently appeared in early episodes of the show, the character was eventually relegated to background cameos.

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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

Montgomery: Well, things didn't work out. Moreau wanted to turn animals into humans and humans into gods. But it's instinct and reason, instinct and reason. What's reason to a dog?
Azazello: To hunt. To kill, master. To run with the pack.
Montgomery: I wanna go to Dog Heaven!
[Azazello shoots Montgomery]

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Alternate Versions

The director's cut contains 4 extra minutes of footage including an expanded intro in the Java sea, a more gruesome end for 'The Father', and other small enhancements

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Connections

Referenced in The H.G. Wells Legacy (2005)

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Soundtracks

Three Thoughts
Written by Einstürzende Neubauten (as Einsturzende Neubauten)
Performed by Einstürzende Neubauten (as Einsturzende Neubauten)
Courtesy of Mute Records Limited and Rough Trade Records

User Reviews

Excellent film

This is one of my favourite movies. I'm a fan of H.G. Wells' books and I think this movie is true to the book. It's much better than the 1977 version. Brando does a great job and Thewlis instantly became one of my favourite actors. Fairuza Balk is absolutely gorgeous!

Wells' stories are surprisingly advanced and mature. Island of Dr. Moreau and War of the Worlds were completely believable, unlike some of the modern adaptations of his works (e.g. the movie Independence Day). Considering that this story was written in the late 1800s, it's held up quite well and is more relevant than ever.