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The Island of Lost Souls (1932) - Erie C. Kenton

This is quite possibly the best adaptation of the H.G. Wells classic story The Island of Dr. Moreau. I am a fan of movies that create a kind of controversy, and this movie did just that. The movie was banned in the UK due to animal cruelty laws. Although I am very much on the side of the animals here, I am very intrigued. Also I am pretty sure that the movie doesn't really harm any animals. 

The movie is about a man who gets stranded on a boat that is on its way to Dr. Moreau's Island. This mad Dr. who looks like Hitler, experiments on animals turning them into some sort of man beasts. There is also a sexy panther woman who is used to seduce men into Dr. Moreau's clutches. The island is not on any map and the evil doctor likes to keep it that way. He has created an entire tribe of man-beasts, which he controls with the crack of his whip.

The movie features some pretty eerie stuff, mostly just monsters in great make-up creeping around in the dark. The Island of Lost Souls is a chilling and terrifying telling of this classic tale. Like I said above this is probably the best telling of it, they tried and failed in the 90's with Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando. 

It is a very entertaining movie that anyone can enjoy. Its not tremendously scary by today's standards but you should still be able to enjoy it. Bela Lugosi has some pretty laughable makeup, he is supposed to be a dog or something... I'm not too sure. 

ARE WE NOT MEN!!!
  • The movie was given an X rating in the UK
  • Filmed on Catalina Island
  • A lot of the actors that played beasts are uncredited even today.

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