The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers (WGA):

H.G. Wells (novel)
Richard Stanley (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Through DNA experimentation Dr. Moreau has upset the balance of nature. By turning animals into humans, he's turned heaven into hell.

Plot:

After being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that it's inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Homosexual Subtext | Explosion | Cult Favorite | Death Of Title Character

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

David Thewlis	...	Edward Douglas
Fairuza Balk	...	Aissa
Ron Perlman	...	Sayer of the Law
Marlon Brando	...	Dr. Moreau
Val Kilmer	...	Montgomery
Marco Hofschneider	...	M'Ling
Temuera Morrison	...	Azazello
William Hootkins	...	Kiril
Daniel Rigney	...	Hyena-Swine
Nelson de la Rosa	...	Majai
Peter Elliott	...	Assassimon
Mark Dacascos	...	Lo-Mai
Miguel López	...	Waggdi
Neil Young	...	Boar Man
David Hudson	...	Bison Man

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence, horror and gore involving mutant creatures.

Runtime:

96 min | USA:99 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Indonesian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Iceland:16 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34098) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:Unrated (director's cut)

Filming Locations:

Australia

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

When Val Kilmer apes David Thewlis' staid manner of saying "the islanders", he sounds more like Marlon Brando (who he later imitates more blatantly) than Thewlis.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Douglas is first walking through the creature settlement, his shirt sleeves are rolled up. In the next shot from the same scene, his sleeves have gone down

Quotes:

Dr. Moreau: I understand that I must be shocking to you, however, I must also point out that I have an allergy to the sun and that's why I put this medication on.
[Dr.Moreau explaining why he covers himself in white powder]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

Night Bird

Well-produced but out of control

David Thewlis is very good as air-crash survivor who is taken to mysterious island in the South Pacific where recluse Marlon Brando mutates various animals with human genes; Fairuza Balk is Brando's daughter, Val Kilmer (in arguably his weakest performance ever) plays Brando's assistant. Uncontrolled version of H.G. Wells' horror story is crippled by behind-the-scenes strife and ego clashes. It opens well, sustains itself for about forty-five minutes, but then goes completely to hell afterward. John Frankenheimer is credited with the scrappy direction, though he stepped in mid-production and finished the picture after Kilmer had the original director canned. Too bad, with more focus this could've been incredible. Story previously filmed in 1933 (as "Island of Lost Souls") and with Michael York and Burt Lancaster in 1977. ** from ****