ISLAND OF TERROR (1966)

4 stars

88 Films. Blu ray. 26th August

Having recently released NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT on disc, 88 Films bring us the other, better, sci fi made by the short lived Planet Films – ISLAND OF TERROR has Peter Cushing front and centre this time and it is once again helmed by the reliable Terence Fisher.

As with BIG HEAT, we are once again on a remote island – Petrie’s off the east coast of Ireland. Isolated, with no means of contact with the mainland, it is the perfect location for a research laboratory such as the one run by Dr Lawrence Phillips (Peter Forbes-Robertson). If their experiments are successful they could be a cure for cancer… but of course something goes wrong!

Out for a walk one evening Ian Bellows (Liam Gaffney) is drawn to an odd noise emanating from a cave and is obviously attacked by something within. When he is reported missing by his wife, local copper Constable John Harris (Sam Kydd) finds what is left of him – “His body is all like jelly”. Dr. Landers (Eddie Byrne) examines the remains and discovers there are no bones! Is it some kind of virulent disease?

The doc goes to the mainland to visit Dr Brian Stanley (Peter Cushing) a leading pathologist for advise and he suggests bringing in Dr David West (Edward Judd) as he is a bone disease expert. Deciding they need to get back to the island as soon as possible, they get a ride in a helicopter – handily the father of West’s girlfriend Toni Merrill (Carole Gray) owns a chopper (behave at the back!). She comes along too.

As they need better equipment to investigate, the trio visit the mansion house where Dr. Phillips has his research facility. They find more boneless bodies and that the menace threatening the island originated in this lab. Can they defeat these creatures and save the day?

This is a cracking little sf thriller, believably played and sped along by Malcolm Lockyer’s music and the snappy dialogue in Edward Andrew Mann and Allan Ramsen’s script. Granted the creatures themselves are a little silly, and the special effects of the day mean they are not terribly convincing – especially when they divide in two, which looks like nothing more than chicken noodle soup. But hey, who cares as they slurp the bones out of their victims and the cast keep admirably straight faces throughout. A fast and fun movie.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

2 stars – a disappointing selection of extras this time out

Audio Commentary by Film Journalist David Flint

Original Trailer

Stills Gallery

You also get reversible sleeve featuring yet more brilliant new artwork by Sean Longmore & original poster and Beware the Silicates on the Island of Terror! – Booklet notes by Barry Forshaw – Cover by Simon Pritchard