Welcome to one of the main features of 'Castle Dracula,' the movie reviews section.
The reviews placed here are from all around the world, from the USA to the UK Japan
and everything inbetween. The formats reviewed are video and DVD. I have included the
origin of the film reviewed so you can check your player for compatibility. You may
also notice that there are some DVD-R reviews. These are not 'bootlegs' or 'copies'
but official screeners that I have been sent containing an as yet unreleased film to 
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- Island of Terror - NTSC Video -  

Island of Terror is one of my favorite movies starring Peter Cushing. It is an 
exceptional 1960s low-budget English horror flick. Many may not be familiar with
this movie as it was not produced by the famous Hammer studio.
I have liked this movie since I first saw it in the mid-1970s.
The plot is very basic. Medical experiments are taking place on an island off 
the coast of Ireland. Reclusive Doctor Phillips is conducting research. The cure 
for cancer is close to being discovered. Since this is a horror movie, it is easily
presumed that nothing good will come out of these procedures. The movie does not 
take long to show the failure in Doctor Phillips work. A farmer is killed in a cave.
All that are left of the man are his clothes and a shriveled corpse. Soon we learn
that the creatures performing these horrible acts have an interesting way to kill.
They suck the bones out of their prey. The victims body is left as nothing more then
a mass of jelly. The islands physician, Doctor Landers, is not sure what to do. He 
goes to the mainland for help. Doctor Stanley (Peter Cushing), Doctor West, and a
female companion of Doctor West accompany him back. Upon searching Doctor Phillipslab,
they discover that the Doctor and his staff have been turned into a mass of wasted, 
boneless flesh. 
This movie has an ingredient that I really like. It lets us use our imagination. We 
never see a creature completely remove the bones from a victim. Instead the victims
screams are combined with the disgusting sounds of bones being sucked out of bodies.
This paints a visual image of the onslaught. An entire attack is never witnessed. 
There is no doubt as to what took place. The gore and brutality are left for the 
audience to visualize on their own. When this method is done correctly, as it is in 
this movie, it is extremely effective.
Peter Cushing is in fine character as his natural English gentleman. He looks and 
acts extremely comfortable in this role. His performance is a reason why one should 
watch this movie. Even when he is injured and no longer able to play the hero, he 
still gives a distinguished and meaningful performance. The rest of the cast is quite
good. Cushing gives the movie a lift that it needs. 
Terence Fishers direction is also a plus. He skillfully crafts the movie around poor
special effects and a paltry budget. It is a technique that not all directors can do.
We do not laugh at the rubber hands and faces of the victims. The creatures look like
mutated turtles with long snakelike necks. 
Many night scenes were filmed during the day through a dark lens. These many flaws do
not cause the film to lose its effect. The movie is too well done and moves along too
quickly to notice. Fisher further controls the movie with a sufficient level of suspense.
Everything about this film just seems to click.
'Island of Terror' is perfect for a late night when you want to be entertained, not 
overwhelmed. It is not a movie with overbearing significance and messy subplots.
You can watch it, enjoy it, and plan on watching it again. I consider it a minor classic.
Though this version was on VHS, it did contain one extra. The original theatrical trailer
is included. It is shown at the front of the movie and worth watching.
I discovered Island of Terror on a discount bin a few years ago. It cost me less then 
5 U. S. dollars. Since then I have not seen it anywhere in any format. That causes 
some slight distress. 'Island of Terror' is something that just about all horror movie 
fans will enjoy. Those who watch horror only for excessive gore and half-naked screaming
women will not like it. Everyone else will. If you get a chance to watch this one, do it.

Reviewed By Scal Williams.

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