Movie spotlight
Devil's Island
After Italian capitulation in WW2, German forces are rushing to take control of the Dalmatian coast, forcing thousands of people to take refuge. One partisan boat, filled with refugees, tries to reach a safe area, but because of a storm it must stop near a small island. While the crew tries to repair it, a German gunboat comes from nearby.
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of people are stranded on a remote island after their boat sinks, only to discover that the island is inhabited by a group of dangerous convicts who have escaped from a nearby penal colony. The survivors must fight for their lives against the brutal inmates while also trying to find a way to escape the island.
Critical Reception
Devil's Island (1979) is a B-movie horror thriller that garnered a modest following among genre fans for its grim atmosphere and violence. While not critically acclaimed, it's often noted for its survivalist themes and bleak portrayal of human nature under duress. It received mixed to negative reviews from mainstream critics at the time of its release, with some praising its suspense but criticizing its gratuitous violence and underdeveloped plot.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its tense survival sequences and isolated setting.
Criticized for its low production values and predictable plot.
Noted for its brutal depiction of desperation and violence.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but those available generally highlight the film's effectiveness as a gritty, low-budget thriller that delivers on suspense, despite its sometimes crude execution.
Fun Fact
The film was shot in Malta, which provided a suitably rugged and isolated backdrop for the fictional 'Devil's Island'.
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