Island of Lost Souls (The Island of Dr. Moreau) (1932)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Stella D

  
  love laughton and he is dead creepy here but the bad makeup effects really put me off. the movie was banned for years for it's suggestion of bestiality and it is indeed very strange. kind of like 'the most dangerous game' only with mutants

• Jacob E

  
  In the world of 1930s films, the pre-code era is looked upon as one of the greatest times for filmmaking. Hollywood hadn't cracked down on immoral thins being filmed. If anything was edited, it was usually sound clips that referenced God (the worst offending example was a… More
  In the world of 1930s films, the pre-code era is looked upon as one of the greatest times for filmmaking. Hollywood hadn't cracked down on immoral thins being filmed. If anything was edited, it was usually sound clips that referenced God (the worst offending example was a horrific edit on the 1931 "Frankenstein" and the "IT'S ALIVE" speech) and other little things. But most scenes with disturbing themes and deaths made their way to theaters unscathed. "Island of Lost Souls" is one of those films that Hollywood left relatively untouched. "Lost Souls" is not really scary, not in the sense that when you watch it you'll leap out of your seat in terror. Instead, it is relentlessly creepy with some weird themes that haven't even been thoroughly examined in desensitized times (mainly the ethics of bestiality). The only moment that might be regarded as scary happens almost right at the end of the movie, and let me say, I did leap off of my couch and shriek "OH MY GOD." In total, this is an underrated gem from the pre-code era, and now Criterion has finally released it on DVD and Blu-Ray (prior to last year, the only way to watch the film was on LaserDisc or VHS), so check it out.

• Ken S

  
  Hands down the best adaptation of the Island of Dr. Moreau. Now that's not saying a lot as the other adaptations are REALLY weak, but seeing Laughton and Lugosi work together is well worth the watch.

• Tim S

  
  Island of Lost Souls, being based on the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, is a masterpiece of the genre. Charles Laughton is absolutely flawless as the mad scientist. He's creepy, unforgiving and absolutely crazy, but at the same time, completely calm and under control.… More
  Island of Lost Souls, being based on the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, is a masterpiece of the genre. Charles Laughton is absolutely flawless as the mad scientist. He's creepy, unforgiving and absolutely crazy, but at the same time, completely calm and under control. It's an astonishing performance by one of film's finest artists. It's also interesting to see Bela Lugosi take such a minor role underneath so much make-up. You wouldn't even know it was him unless you read the credits. Overall, it's an amazing film that stands out as the best adaptation of the original novel, despite the detractors.

• AJ V

  
  This is the best movie about dr. moreau and the island of lost souls. If you're interested in mad scientist and haunted islands you should see this movie.

• Cindy I

  
  Atmospheric flick about the dangers of taking science where it wasn't meant to go. Charles Laughton is the best of the Dr. Moreau's -- malevolent, sadistic, but truly believes that what he's doing is important to science.

• Eric H

  
  Kenton's adaptation of HG Wells' "Island of Doctor Moreau" has been an unfairly forgotten work of pre-code horror. Until it's bluray release late in 2011 it was unavailable on DVD, possibly due to it being a Paramount release. The Universal horrors of the era… More
  Kenton's adaptation of HG Wells' "Island of Doctor Moreau" has been an unfairly forgotten work of pre-code horror. Until it's bluray release late in 2011 it was unavailable on DVD, possibly due to it being a Paramount release. The Universal horrors of the era are widely available but those of other studios haven't received the same attention. If you're unaware, the term "pre-code" refers to those movies made before the introduction of the Hays code in the thirties. For the first thirty-plus years of cinema it was "anything goes" as far as content was concerned. Traditionally with so many unconnected sects of Protestantism no single religious group had the power to challenge Hollywood on it's morality, or perceived lack thereof. At the start of the twentieth century however mass immigration from Italy, Poland, and Ireland led to Catholicism becoming America's single biggest religion. At first, partly due to widespread anti-Catholicism, Hollywood turned a blind eye to the fact that a huge group of potential cinemagoers were avoiding the "palaces of sin" on the advice of their priest. With the coming of the depression in the thirties Hollywood realised it was no longer viable to ignore such a huge audience and film-makers were forced to play by a set of rules imposed by religious leaders and overseen by former Postmaster General Will Hays. Had Kenton made "IOLS" a couple of years later he would have had to seriously tone things down. When Arlen finds himself on a strange island after being shipwrecked he encounters the mad Doctor Moreau, played with manic relish by Laughton, and the natives who have fallen victim to his experimenting. Moreau has been creating a race of "Manimals", including a panther woman who he hopes will mate with Arlen. This kind of implied bestiality could only have come pre-code. Arlen almost does the deed but then notices the claws on the hands of his feline lover. This movie features some fantastic make-up work, the manimals are downright gruesome. I can only imagine how audiences must have reacted to such sights in 1932. Bela Lugosi is hidden under a face of fur as the leader of the natives who ultimately turn on Laughton. If you're a fan of classic horror or even "Planet of the Apes" then this has to go on your to-watch list.

• Matthew Y

  
  "Are We Not Men!" Great script with some decent performances, unfortunately the make-up effects were probably not advanced enough to really make the shocking and lasting impact that this film should have had. The romantic lust between the two leads also suffers from the… More
  "Are We Not Men!" Great script with some decent performances, unfortunately the make-up effects were probably not advanced enough to really make the shocking and lasting impact that this film should have had. The romantic lust between the two leads also suffers from the production codes of the time. I think this would have been a much better film if it was made in the 60's or 70's. The actor who plays Moreau does a fine job and Bela Lugosi is a stand-out in his role as one of the jungle "men". It's great to see Bela Lugosi in anything and always a treat when he's not being Dracula.

• Alec B

  
  Its a decidedly fun and lurid little film. I love how the brief running time is used to break down the story to its most basic levels. No scene is wasted but it also never feels rushed. While its clearly a pre Hayes Code film (the suggestion of bestiality almost made me faint), its… More
  Its a decidedly fun and lurid little film. I love how the brief running time is used to break down the story to its most basic levels. No scene is wasted but it also never feels rushed. While its clearly a pre Hayes Code film (the suggestion of bestiality almost made me faint), its still reserved. Tension is drawn from the constant potential of mayhem and when it finally does unleash, the ending gets fairly disturbing even by today's standards. Oh and Laughton gives a reserved and complex performance that may be a little too good for this movie.

• Chris B

  
  H.G. Wells' first film version stars Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau and explores some dark and haunting themes especially for the year it was made. While some of the scenes are over the top and lines a little melodramatic but overall very good from its leads. The half man half… More
  H.G. Wells' first film version stars Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau and explores some dark and haunting themes especially for the year it was made. While some of the scenes are over the top and lines a little melodramatic but overall very good from its leads. The half man half beast extras are quite disturbing and prove their human counterparts fears in the end of the film. The fact that back in its release days it was edited and yet still made theater patrons vomit may seem a little too hard to believe, but this was nearly 80 years ago after all! A great horror film and good adaptation of an engaging and controversial story.

• Leo L

  
  Good!

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