Horror Island

Horror Island (1941)

*** (out of 4)

Shockingly effective "B" thriller from Universal perfectly blends the mystery, horror and comedy genres. A con man (Dick Foran) takes a group of people to an island for a treasure hunt but soon a crazed madman starts killing them one by one. I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed this film considering how many of these types of films I've seen. The movie runs at lightening speed, which isn't the norm and all the jokes work wonderfully well. Foran makes for a good and charming leading man and the supporting cast does fine work as well. Unlike others in its genre, I didn't catch onto who the killer was either.

This film has a LOT of potential: a haunted castle with a cloaked "phantom" running about, secret panels, hidden treasure, etc.

The only problem is that the crew seems to take FOREVER to get to the island, and once there, the "scarey business" happens much too fast. It would've been much better if they had added about 20 mins. to this film, that would've allowed them to slowly build up each "scare". As it is, things happens so fast, that you don't have time to "savor" them.

A good film, none-the-less.

Old dark house comedy thriller from Universal with a nice cast of eclectic characters. Dick Foran plays a financially-strapped boat captain who comes up with a phony treasure hunt scam. He takes a group of suckers out to Morgan's Island to hunt for Sir Henry Morgan's treasure. They stay in an old castle and that night strange things start to happen. The group finds itself menaced by a mysterious man in a cape. In addition to Foran, there's Fuzzy Knight, Leo Carrillo, John Eldredge, Hobart Cavanaugh, and other faces familiar to classic film fans. Peggy Moran reunites with her Mummy's Hand love interest, Dick Foran. It's diverting, escapist fun. Quick little B movie that is a pleasant way to pass the time.

I had first known about this through a still in the Halliwell Film Guide, though the noted late critic usually dismissed similar programmers: it turned out to be a fun horror comedy (from a story by Curt Siodmak) whose 60-minute length zips by – providing plenty of characters (even if the gangster-on-the-lam and his moll don't really work here), action, old-fashioned thrills (a caped maniac after hidden loot is loose in a remote castle), chuckles – and a surprise villain; the film is a shade overbalanced by the comedy, but the typical Universal atmosphere (and a few of its more notable sets!) are certainly present throughout. It also features a good second-tier cast: likable Dick Foran and cute Peggy Moran – re-united after the superior THE MUMMY'S HAND (1940) – are the leads and they're ably supported by the likes of Leo Carrillo, Fuzzy Knight, Hobart Cavanaugh and Walter Catlett; however, it's Lewis Howard who steals the film as Moran's chronically tired companion – even though he's absent through most of the second half!

Michael Elliott had rated this a *** and I almost did myself – but, in the long run, I don't think the film has quite the same draw as even some of the lesser titles in the Universal monster cycle; still, for an 'old dark house' type of film – of which the studio did their fair share – it's well up to par. Incidentally, I had acquired another copy of this on DVD-R last year, but the disc froze several times during playback and I had to give up after a while; I'm glad I caught up with it eventually, as the film deserves to have a legitimate DVD release along with some of the other rare/lesser-known Universal horrors, like MAN-MADE MONSTER (1941) – which I've never watched! – and NIGHT MONSTER (1942).

Out of Universal Pictures, Horror Island is directed by George Waggner and stars Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, Peggy Moran, Fuzzy Night, John Eldredge, Iris Adrian & Lewis Howard. Screenplay is written by Victor McLeod & Maurice Tombragel from an original story by Alex Gottlieb, music is by H. J. Salter and cinematography comes from Elwood Bredell.

Thought to be the cheapest made of all the Universal Pictures releases in the 1940s, Horror Island is in no way a great movie. However, if viewed on its own fun comedy chiller terms it delivers for those of the Dark House mystery persuasion. Plot sees a group of dissimilar human beings gathered on the titular island of the title under the guise of searching for hidden treasure in a haunted mansion. Quelle surprise as things actually do start to go bump in the night and the group start being picked off one by one. Very much in the flavour of Ten Little Indians, but with Universal's trademark sets and atmosphere building (Bredell always impressive whatever the budget), Horror Island (ignore the foreboding sounding title) is a whole bunch of fun. Some of the plot doesn't add up, but that adds to the mystery; which why we are on the subject, the mystery reveal of the villain is a pleasant surprise. While the cast have fun and play it accordingly, particularly the delightful Adrian and Foran with his little knowing looks throughout.

Full of creaky doors, moving floors and all that sort of ghost house stuff, Horror Island is hugely enjoyable horror comedy fare for the discerning old time viewer. 6.5/10