Island of Terror (1966)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Edward Mann (writer)
Al Ramsen (writer)

Release Date:

February 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

How could they stop the devouring death...that lived by sucking on living human bones!

Plot:

A small island community is overrun with creeping, blobbish, tentacled monsters which liquefy and digest the bones from living creatures...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Creature | Island | Reference To Napoleon | Medical Research

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Dr. Brian Stanley
Edward Judd	...	Dr. David West
Carole Gray	...	Toni Merrill
Eddie Byrne	...	Dr. Reginald Landers
Sam Kydd	...	Constable John Harris
Niall MacGinnis	...	Roger Campbell
James Caffrey	...	Peter Argyle
Liam Gaffney	...	Ian Bellows
Roger Heathcote	...	Dunley
Keith Bell	...	Halsey
Shay Gorman	...	Morton
Peter Forbes-Robertson	...	Dr. Lawrence Phillips
Richard Bidlake	...	Carson
Joyce Hemson	...	Mrs. Bellows
Edward Ogden	...	Helicopter Pilot

Also Known As:

Night of the Silicates
The Creepers
The Night the Creatures Came
The Night the Silicates Came

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | UK:X (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #21295)

Filming Locations:

Black Park Country Park, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Planet Film Productions

Trivia:

In the French version (post-synchronized) Edward Judd is dubbed by Jean-Claude Michel / Visa d'exploitation en France : #38125

Goofs:

Continuity: After Dr. Landers is killed, his corpse mysteriously vanishes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Peter Argyle: Is that all, then, Ian?
Ian Bellows: I think so. And how long will it take to fill the order, then, this time, eh?
Peter Argyle: Oh, probably three to four weeks.
Ian Bellows: Y'know, they ought to give us better service, and a boat coming once a week is not enough! You'd think at least they'd get our telephones installed.
Peter Argyle: Y'know, they promised 'em this year.
Ian Bellows: Aye, and last!

The only horror movie that scared me when I was a teen.

It was the early 70's when I first saw Island of Terror on a Saturday late night horror show called Shock Theatre. I've always been a fan of Peter Cushing and his films so when I read that he was in it that made it a must see. We were hearing more and more about cancer research so this movie had relevence to the times. Growing up as a youngster in a rural area surrounded by livestock, the opening scene with the dead horse spooked me. At the time I first saw the film, the idea of Cancer research going haywire was a possiblilty and having your bones sucked out of your body while you were alive sent chills through my body. As the creatures were shown more and more, took more victims in varying fashions, more and more lights were turned on in my living room where I was watching the movie. The ending put the icing on the cake and I slept with the lights on for about a week. I had seen many horror movies including The Blob, but this was the only one to really get me sacred and keep me scared. I strongly recommend this movie to everyone. It's got suspence, surprises, a bit of humor, some horror, is just an enjoyable movie to watch and is one of my favorites. It's been many years since I've seen the movie so I just ordered a copy to enjoy again and again. Definately a classic for anyone's movie library.

I've noticed some reviews talking about how cheap the special effects were and the weak story/plot line, but these are all comparing the film to the standards of todays filmaking. As a child I didn't notice any of the effects simplistics. I was looking for some entertainment and a good late night scare, and Island of Terror delivered.