The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996).

I watched it so you don't have to.

But maybe, just maybe, you should. I'm glad I did.

More after the pictures.






My friend let me borrow this movie nearly a week ago.

Holy shit, what a movie.

Apparently, critics hated it! It was nominated for a bunch of Razzies. And Marlon Brando won the Razzie for worst supporting actor. Superb!

I didn't think it was bad enough to turn off. And if you can take away nothing else, I'm sure you'll appreciate the awesome makeup, and this guy.



The movie descends into madness almost immediately, and it sinks lower and lower as the scenes progress. We start at scene on a life raft where three men a trying to kill each other for some water. Two of the three men are eaten by sharks. Shortly thereafter the surviving man, who is the film's protagonist, decides to leave the ship that saves him to join Val Kilmer on a mysterious island, because the captain of the ship would like nothing more than to make him his bitch. After that, we get animal men, Marlon Brano as Dr. Moreau, and this guy.



The doctor is eaten by his children, Val Kilmer abuses drugs and incites an orgy, the animals get guns and set fire to most of the shit on the island and,

Actually I was kind of hoping they'd just kill the hero and end the movie right there. That's what would happen if this happened in real life anyway.

Anyway, after that, somehow shit turns around for the better and the remaining animal-men are left to their island, where they presumably live in relative peace and harmony for the rest of their weird lives. Maybe there were more orgies, I don't know.

Brando is (unintentionally?) hilarious as Dr. Moreau, a man so calm in the face of such monstrosities, you wonder if he might be on quaaludes!

Kilmer was hilarious too. The other guy, David Thewlis, was not really believable as the protagonist. If I was him, I would probably have killed myself three or four times during the course of the film. I'd have killed something when I saw the female goat-woman give birth.

Fairuza Balk was the female love-interest type of the movie. I'd let her use my genes to create horrifying man-beasts any day!

I think the best way to approach the movie is to think of it as commentary about society, but not in the same way as you would Apocalypto. This movie is more focused on the subject of the breakdown of a society built on the fear of punishment, and the struggle between law and anarchy when the tables are suddenly turned. That, and the horrors of Hollywood gene-splicing.

First and foremost though, just appreciate the great makeup and the absurdity at various points throughout the movie. If you decide to see this, I'd recommend the director's cut on DVD. From what I've read about the differences between this and the original theatrical release, there are things that have been left out of the movie that make certain scenes harder to understand. Oh, and there is more gore in the director's cut.

It wasn't a terrible movie.