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:

The gates of hell are unlocked.

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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:

La isla del Dr. Moreau

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,101,987, 25 August 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$27,663,982, 3 November 1996

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$42,000,000

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

Ron Perlman's character is blind. Perlman had lenses put over his eyes so he actually played the role blind.

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Goofs

When Douglas is first walking through the creature settlement, his shirt sleeves are rolled up. In the next shot from the same scene, his sleeves have gone down

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Quotes

Hyena-Swine: Five-man... please... tell them... that I am God. Hmm?
[Hyena-Swine presses a button on Moreau's remote, causing many Beast People to collapse in pain]
Edward Douglas: You're right. You are... a god.
Sayer of the Law: No!
Hyena-Swine: Again.
Edward Douglas: You are a god. You're all gods.
Hyena-Swine: Tell them to obey me like they did the Father.
Edward Douglas: You all killed the Father. You all ate his flesh. So who is the new Father? Who is God Number One? Who should they obey? Him? Or him?
[indicating other members of Hyena-Swine's pack]
Edward Douglas: You see, there must be a God Number One.
[...]

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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

Featured in 100 höjdare: Efterkrigstidens uslaste ögonblick (2005)

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Soundtracks

Brandenburg Concerto #2 in F Major, Movement #2
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Courtesy of Associated Production Music

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.