Directed by Erle C. Kenton • 1932 • United States
Starring Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams
A twisted treasure from Hollywood’s pre-Code horror heyday, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS is a cautionary tale of science run amok, adapted from H. G. Wells’s novel “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” In one of his first major movie roles, Charles Laughton is a mad doctor conducting ghastly genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, much to the fear and disgust of the shipwrecked man (Richard Arlen) who finds himself trapped there. This touchstone of movie terror, directed by Erle C. Kenton, features expressionistic photography by Karl Struss, groundbreaking makeup effects that have inspired generations of monster-movie artists, and the legendary Bela Lugosi in one of his most gruesome roles.
Up Next in Horror F/X
-
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Directed by Jack Arnold • 1954 • United States
Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard DenningIn this pulp-horror classic (originally shot in 3D), American scientists on an Amazon expedition get more than they bargained for when a dark tributary turns up a prehistoric man with gills. Hal...
-
The Curse of the Werewolf
Directed by Terence Fisher • 1961 • United Kingdom
Starring Oliver Reed, Clifford Evans, Catherine FellerHaving found success with their gothic reimaginings of classic movie monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Mummy, Britain’s legendary Hammer studios embarked on their one and only for...
-
The Fog
Directed by John Carpenter • 1980 • United States
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom AtkinsLong-buried secrets come back to haunt a small town in this triumph of atmosphere and creeping unease from genre great John Carpenter. Drawing inspiration from the moody masterworks of Val L...