Director Mike Wiluan’s historical WWII horror film Monster Island has now been unleashed on Shudder. After a considerable amount of buzz, I watched it for myself.
Inspired by Malay folklore and the 1954 creature classic Creature from the Black Lagoon, Monster Island/Orang Ikan plunges us into the bleak reality of 1942. The story begins with a Japanese ship transporting a grim cargo: prisoners of war (POWs) destined for forced labor camps. However, their journey takes a violent turn when Allied submarines torpedo their vessel.
A lone Japanese soldier and a British POW find themselves stranded on a deserted island. But the illusion of isolation is quickly shattered as they discover they are far from alone. A ferocious, mythological creature known as the Orang Ikan (or “Fish Man”) is hunting them. Despite their deep-seated wartime hate, their only hope for survival lies in an uneasy alliance against the terror lurking in the shadows and the surrounding waters.
Dean Fujioka (Fullmetal Alchemist) and British actor Callum Woodhouse (All Creatures Great & Small) gave fantastic performances as two men trapped on an island with a dangerous creature. The two play so well together. Not only do we see their fight for survival, but we also witness two men, enemies, coming to understand each other, overcoming not only cultural differences but also a significant language barrier.
One of the things that impressed me so about the movie is the way it lingers in emotional scenes. It allows for genuine character development. And it gives us time to get attached to the characters.
It’s far more than just an action flick. But don’t get me wrong, there’s a ton of action and scenes with the frightening creature. And if you’re into blood and gore, you will be happy to learn that Monster Island has plenty of that too.
The film unfolds against a stunning island backdrop, providing a stark contrast to the harshness of war and death. And it was beautifully shot.
The creature looked great, and I’m pretty sure that it was practical, which I genuinely appreciate. There is only one complaint I have about the beast: I wish clear images of it in the promotional footage and pictures had been avoided. It would have been so much better as a surprise.
I appreciate the choices made within Monster Island by director Mike Wiluan. And the ending was one of the best choices. It couldn’t have been better. He made a must-see film that is truly worth seeing. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and highly recommend it. Watch it now on Shudder.
