Island Of Death Blu-Ray Review

• 24th Mar 2011

I would like to give this film an award – the worst film ever made. That’s quite an accolade. I’m sure there are many films deemed worthy of this title but this is truly bad and on a par with many soft porn movies in the 70s and indeed has many exploitative cross over traits as both soft porn and video nasty horror. It was, until now, only available in the heavily cut version and has, perhaps thankfully, not been awarded the cult status of other video nasties like Driller Killer and I Spit on Your Grave. It would be fair to say it has no redeeming features to give it any credit, including a gratuitous moment when a sexually voracious milf is peed on by the serial killer.

The story revolves around an English couple who have arrived on the Greek island of Mykanos who, on first appearance seem a nice pair of young lovers. That is until the boy decides to phone his mother while having sex with his girlfriend in a phone box. After this he goes on to shag a goat while the girl lies sleeping. One evening the pair go for a meal and get talking to a local, who they end up inviting him back with them. The boy, Christopher, hides and takes pictures of his girl, Celia, flirting with the man before the pair attack him, crucify him to the ground and carry out all sorts of murders and brutalities on the island. As their excuse for the killing spree against gays, lesbians and other ‘sexual deviants’ they cite moral right. All the murders revolve around sex and seduction, but ultimately it is an excuse for an exploitation flick fuelled by sex, rape, humiliation and bestiality. It really is an unpleasant film and is not recommended for anyone. Having said that, compared to films that have come out in the past twenty years it is, despite what I have already written, rather tame and its low production values and cheap look make it appear more unpleasant.

Written and directed by Nico Mastorakis, he shows neither the artistry of such cheap 70s horrors as Tobe Hooper or Mario Bava but does include a kitsch soundtrack to run alongside the this distasteful and twisted, decidedly un-scary, unrealistic, downright dreadful and (thankfully) largely forgotten piece of schlock trash.

The good news is that the release comes with the usual Arrow treatment – commentary, interviews, critiques and the kitchen sink!

Chris Hick