Isle of the Dead (film)

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Isle of the Dead is a 1945 American horror film directed by Mark Robson and produced by Val Lewton for RKO. The story is inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s painting The Isle of the Dead. It stars Boris Karloff and Ellen Drew.

Plot
The action takes place in 1912 during the Balkan Wars on a Greek island called the Isle of the Dead. General Pherides and American reporter Oliver Davis visit to honor the General’s long-dead wife. They meet archaeologist Dr. Aubrecht, his housekeeper Madame Kyra, a British diplomat, his wife, and her young Greek companion Thea, along with another man named Andrew Robbins. A strange superstition grows about a vorvolaka, a malevolent creature in human form, living among them.

Soon a deadly plague breaks out, and people begin to die. The island is quarantined, and fear and rumors spread. Kyra hints that Thea might be the vorvolaka, while others dismiss superstition. As deaths mount and tensions rise, the group wonders who or what is causing the curse. A cataleptic woman is buried alive, and chaos follows as suspicion turns toward Thea and toward the plague itself. In the end, the archaeologist suggests the real danger was fear and a desire to protect oneself, while the plague and the eerie legends leave their mark on everyone.

Production
Filming began in July 1944 but paused when Karloff needed back surgery. It resumed later that year and finished in December. The central female character from the original script was removed. The score, by Leigh Harline, draws on themes from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Isle of the Dead and avoids copyright issues. Isle of the Dead premiered in New York City on September 7, 1945. The film had a budget of $246,000. Domestic rentals were about $266,000 and foreign rentals about $117,000, making only a modest profit. It was re-issued in 1953 on a double bill and began airing on television in 1959.

Reception
Critics had mixed but generally positive views. James Agee praised its effectiveness, though he noted some flaws. Leonard Maltin later gave it 3 out of 4 stars. director Martin Scorsese lists Isle of the Dead among the scariest films. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a high approval rating (about 90% from 21 reviews).