Horror Island (1941)

“Can somebody tell me why lobsters don’t like beer?”  23 December 2020

Despite being made by Universal in 1941 and carrying a name like Horror Island, this isn’t the horror film most would expect.  Instead, Horror Island is a fun little comedy / mystery with just a few creepy moments thrown in.  The plot goes something like this: A down on his luck boat captain, Bill Martin (Dick Foran), is approached by a one-legged man with a map and a story of hidden treasure on an island Martin owns.  Martin sees this story as an opportunity to make some money.  He sets up a $50 overnight pirate treasure hunt to his island.  Soon he’s got a boatload of paying guests.  But there’s another visitor to the island.  One Martin knows nothing about.  He’s also after the treasure, however, he’s willing to kill for it.

Setting aside the questionable historical accuracy of a 400 year-old gothic castle off the U.S. coast, Horror Island is one fun, entertaining film.  The script is filled with a lot of things that appeal to me in this kind of movie - an old dark castle, secret passages, hidden treasure, and a dungeon.  There are plenty of unusual, creepy spaces and locations for the characters to explore and discover (and get trapped in).  Horror Island may have been a “B” picture, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at it.  Universal made sure these films looked as good as their “A’ releases.  Sets, lighting, and props are first rate.  The direction is good.  Director George Waggner fit a lot into a rather short 60 minute runtime.  As for the acting, the four main players acquit themselves well.  Dick Foran is more than capable of carrying the film on his shoulders.  Peggy Moran (Moran and Foran also worked together on Universal’s The Mummy’s Hand) is a delight as the love interest.  Fuzzy Knight had the hardest job - the comic relief.  I appreciate how funny he was without going overboard.  Finally, I especially enjoyed Leo Carrillo.  His peg-legged sailor is just a fun character that brings a lot to the film.  He had sort of a Karloff vibe to him that worked nicely.  Overall, Horror Island is a worthwhile watch if you’re not overly demanding.  

6/10