Island of Lost Souls (1932)

In a tale of maritime misfortune, Edward Parker finds himself at the mercy of the sea when his ship succumbs to the unforgiving waves. His salvation comes in the form of a passing freighter, captained by the bellicose Davies of the Apia, only to be ejected into the treacherous waters once again, amid a heated altercation. His second rescue lands him on a secluded tropical island, the enigmatic domain of the elusive Dr. Moreau. Parker, initially welcomed with an unsettling cordiality, soon uncovers the disturbing secrets shrouded by the island's lush greenery. Dr. Moreau, a man as peculiar as his island, harbors a sinister predilection for the grotesque, wielding his whip with unrelenting fervor over his unnerving collection of genetic monstrosities. Blurring the boundaries of nature, Moreau's experiments have birthed a grotesque population of half-human, half-beast hybrids, with his prized creation being the perplexingly beautiful Lota, the panther woman. Despite his revulsion, Parker finds himself ensnared in Moreau's twisted world, a pawn in the doctor's relentless pursuit of the grotesque. His only glimmer of hope emerges with the arrival of his intrepid fiancée Ruth, who, guided by the fearless Captain Donohue, embarks on a daring journey to reclaim her lost love. But the island, ever unpredictable, teeters on the brink of chaos, as Moreau's near-human subjects rise, their rebellion threatening everyone on the island. In this haunting narrative, the Island of Lost Souls serves as a chilling reminder of the price one pays when nature's laws are brazenly defied, leaving no one unscathed in its tumultuous wake. As the island plunges into anarchy, Parker, Ruth, and even the audacious Dr. Moreau must confront the horrifying reality of their circumstances and pay the cost of their actions.

Island of Lost Souls is an adventure movie featuring Charles Laughton.

Island of Lost Souls is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.