Mikes Film Talk

The 2024 horror film Monster Island gives us a monster a la the Creature of the Black Lagoon. On steroids. A nod to an old classic or two, plus a touch of Predator winks as well, this one rocks. Take that old “disbelief” hat off at the door and you will love this one. All the more if you miss those old Saturday night “creature features.”

The Monster Island Story

It is World War 2. A Japanese prisoner of war ship is torpedoed. A British soldier and a Japanese prisoner are chained together before the ship’s annihilation. They end up on a not so deserted island. Unfortunately, a monster that is pretty near indestructible is there already.

The Monster Island Cast

Dean Fujioka is Saito.

Callum Woodhouse is Bronson.

This Works

Writer/director Mike Wiluan gives us a world indicative of Skull Island. There is no Kong here, or Godzilla. There, however, a modern version of “good old Ricou Browning in a monster suit.” *As Stephen King puts it in his Danse Macabre book about horror.* There is also no zipper running up this creatures back.

To be fair, the creature only resembles the original monster. It has a lot more teeth, and claws. *Some of these look glued on by the way.*

Wiluan sets things up in way that the film could be a horror riff off of another film. Hell in the Pacific (1968). The film starred Lee Marvin and Toshirô Mifune. This war picture has a similar premise to Monster Island. Two enemies from different countries end up on a deserted island. At first they try to kill one another. Soon they start to bond.

Sound familiar?

War and Monsters are Hell

Wiluan tells us that war is indeed hell. Especially if you are a prisoner of war. After the ship is blown to bits, Bronson and Saito learn that monsters are also hell. They initially try to kill one another. Like Hell in the Pacific, they learn to work together and bond. Although on Monster Island, they have more to worry about than that creature. There are soldiers washing up on shore with guns and an attitude.

It Looks Great

Monster Island, or Orang Ikan if you prefer. Looks brilliant. From the shipboard scenes, to the beach landing to the fights for survival, the film oozes old fashioned horror. The lighting is spot on. Fight sequences are excellent and the stunts are just as brilliant.

All you really need to do is suspend that disbelief. Sure, it is mighty convenient that Bronson can understand Saito so easily. It even makes a certain amount of sense. We have no idea how long the Brit Corporal has been a POW. He could have picked up a lot.

There is also the issue of the explosion. I do not want to veer into spoiler territory so I will leave this one alone.

Monster Island The Verdict

This one earns a stonking 5 stars for entertainment value alone. A Shudder movie that takes you an a great horror ride. I was gripped by the film from frame one. It is streaming on AMC plus right now. Pop up a huge bowl of popcorn, grab a beer and sit back. This is a fun one.

The Trailer