A slow pace and some wooden dialogue don’t prevent this movie from being a fun spooky little film.

Released in 1945 and starring Boris Karloff, this film was produced by the prolific horror maestro Val Lewton. Based on the Arnold Bocklin painting of the same name, the film follows a Greek General named Pherides, played by Karloff as he journeys to the titular Isle of Dead, a funeral island just off shore to visit the grave of wife. Once there he meets a collection of residents and travelers. The group soon becomes quarantined as the plague claims one of their number. Pherides appoints himself the watchdog of the group and suspicion and superstition begin to mingle to deadly results. 

It took me a while to get into this one. Some of the dialogue felt very wooden and stilted. The exposition, while necessary, feels bolted onto the script awkwardly. This dialogue combined with the formality of the performers creates a jarring unnatural presentation that is definitely a barrier to entry for the average viewer. 

The movie is also very deliberately paced. The film doesn’t have a lot of run time, but takes that time to slowly build up the suspicion and character dynamics. 

If both of those turn you off, then the movie isn’t going to be for you. However, if you give the movie a chance, you’ll find a really interesting and exciting story that feels resonant to modern times. 

The collection of survivors become tired of each others company quickly. As Pherides takes his self appointed role as watchdog too seriously, he inspires rebellion which leads to more extreme measures. I kept thinking back to 2020 being trapped inside and feeling suspicious and mistrustful of the people around us and the people in authority. 

In order to cope with the plague, one of the locals named Kyra, played by Helen Thimig, leans on old superstitions of a demonic force called the vorvolaka is here in the form a beautiful young woman named Thea, played by Ellen Drew. Kyra begins hounding Thea, and whispering into Pherides susceptible ears about the demon amongst them. The tension grows as the suspicions grow. 

The film also explores another classic fear. The fear of being buried alive or buried prematurely features prominently into the film. As people begin dying of the plague, Pherides demands immediate burial to prevent the further spread of illness. This is terrifying to Mary St. Aubyn, played by Katherine Emery, as her greatest fear is being buried alive. When a premature burial does eventually happen it is portrayed by creepy and haunting tragedy. 

The final thirty minutes are when the film will feel the most familiar to horror fans. This is when the scares start piling up and the suspicions start to pay off. If you watch to the end you’ll be rewarded greatly. It is full of fearful and terrifying ideas and ends with a climactic bang that is a lot of haunting fun. 

This definitely won’t be for everyone, but it is a fun little horror story to watch on your Halloween night. 

It is my cup of tea. A-