It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987)

50% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
21% of users liked it
(1,358 ratings)

Better known as It's Alive III, Island of the Alive details the further exploits of the murderous mutant infants introduced in director Larry Cohen's It's Alive! (1974). Said infants are shipped off to a desert island, where they are completely cut off from civilization. The government intends to… More Better known as It's Alive III, Island of the Alive details the further exploits of the murderous mutant infants introduced in director Larry Cohen's It's Alive! (1974). Said infants are shipped off to a desert island, where they are completely cut off from civilization. The government intends to eliminate the penned-up infants, but Michael Moriarty, the father of one of the babies, organizes a protest against this wholesale slaughter. It is clear to anyone who can read that director Cohen is drawing parallels between the quarantined children and society's treatment of AIDS victims. The strength of Cohen's direction and storytelling prowess is slightly weakened by some inadequate special effects in the closing scenes, wherein the babies reproduce and wreak havoc on the Mainland. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Larry Cohen
Genres: Horror, Comedy

On DVD: Aug 31, 1994

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The weakest one in the series.
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
Cohen really blood sucked his idea on this one
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
Finishes the series' natural allegorical evolution.
Joshua Vasquez, Slant Magazine
While perhaps not as necessary a purchase as the release of It's Alive, the two-for-the-price-of-one approach of this DVD is certainly appealing.
Joshua Vasquez, Slant Magazine
Stretches the darkly comedic aspects of the trilogy to the breaking point.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Cohen continues to milk his cash cow series with some success.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
All of these films are okay, if you order your movies up with extra CHEESE.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lee ?

This one sets a different tone compared to the first two films in the series and doesn't take itself too seriously. It's got some nice gore and some bizarre humourous moments, and you also get a better look at the mutant misfits and even fully grown ones too. It is a pretty… More
This one sets a different tone compared to the first two films in the series and doesn't take itself too seriously. It's got some nice gore and some bizarre humourous moments, and you also get a better look at the mutant misfits and even fully grown ones too. It is a pretty stupid film though and quite juvenille, so not a classic here, but it is fun.
Lafe F

A whole tropical Island of monster babies is visited for maxiumum horror and hilarity. Like a Jurassic Park sequel, men with guns become the hunted ones against the hoard. Fun and cheap.
Adam M

worth it only for Moriarity's performance, which is as idiosyncratic as one of Walken's; not a good movie but the least logy of the series

Cast

            Michael Moriarty as Steve Jarvis

            Karen Black as Ellen Jarvis

            Laurene Landon as Sally

            Gerrit Graham as Ralston

            James Dixon as Dr. Perkins

            Neal Israel as Dr. Brewster

            Art Lund as Swenson

            Ann Dane as Miss Morrell

            Macdonald Carey as Judge Watson

            Tony Abatemarco as Cuban

            Jonathan Brandis
            
            Lynda A. Clark as 2nd Woman

            Richard Duggan as Cop

            Jill Gatsby as Girl in Cab

            Patch Mackenzie as Robbins

            Carlos Palomino (II) as Cuban

            Jackie Swanson as Tenant

            John Woehrle as Cop

            Lauri Riley as Medic

            William Watson as Cabot

            Katja Crosby as Girl in Court

            Mitchell Edmonds as Stewart

            Rick Garia as Tony

            Steven Alan Green as Comic

            Kathleen Kichta as Girl on Beach

            Joann Lara as Waitress

            Kevin O'Conner as Cab Driver

            Gladys Portugese as Waitress

            Bobby Ramsen as T.V. Host

            Dan Rycerz as Court Officer

            Elizabeth Sanders as Autograph Seeker

            Edward Shils as Medical Examiner

            Marilyn Staley as Miss Garson

            C.L. Sussex as Hunter
See full cast