Considering that this film is a cult classic and one of a short list of films previously banned by the BBFC, I was unfamiliar with it. In fact I probably wouldn’t have been aware of it all if it hadn’t been the focus of a Simpsons’ Halloween episode, in which the whole family are turned into half-man half-animal creatures. So before viewing it I did some research, finding that people believed it had held up very well over time and was a great movie. But in all honesty I wasn’t that impressed with the film.
This might have been because its story was slightly spoiled by the Simpsons’ parody, with the reveal that the evil doctor has been making animals more like men not being shocking to me. The story in a nutshell is that a man, Parker, is shipwrecked and taken to a mysterious island where a mad scientist does unnatural experiments. I felt that there was very little story to it however. Parker is eventually found by his fiancé and taken home, while the doctor faces an uprising from his creations. This is probably the most interesting aspect of the film and unfortunately the film ends right when this is picking up.
The acting is hardly fantastic, ranging from hammy and theatrical (Laughton as Dr Moreau) to downright laughable (the ship’s captain, particularly his drunk ‘acting’). The hero of the story, Parker, is rather boring and unlikeable, with Dr Moreau being the only thing that kept me interested in the film. His theatricality keeps you gripped to the screen every time he appears. Interestingly famed actor Bela Lugosi appears in a small role as the head half-beast creature, in quite a good performance.
The film’s transfer to Blu-ray is unfortunately rather unimpressive, especially considering what has been done to films of similar age like Wizard of Oz. The picture is very grainy and the sound rather indistinct, making the dialogue hard to follow at times. There are also occasional noises present during the film that are clearly not supposed to be there.
In terms of special features the only one worth mentioning is a feature with horror critic Jonathan Rigby, who discusses the film and it’s adaption from the original novel. There is also the soundtrack for the film and its original trailer.
Overall Verdict: While the film isn’t a total write off, I feel that modern audiences will not be that interested in it. Strictly for fans of classic horror and Charles Laughton.
Special Features:
Historian Jonathan Rigby discussing the film
The original soundtrack
The original trailer
Reviewer: Matt Mallinson