Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Island of Lost Souls

Play trailer Poster for Island of Lost Souls 1933 1h 10m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In this adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel "The Island of Doctor Moreau," Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) is shipwrecked on a remote island presided over by the mysterious Dr. Moreau (Charles Laughton). Edward discovers his host is conducting genetic experiments, and presiding over a race of half-human, half-animal hybrids, including the alluring Panther Woman and the sage Sayer of the Law (Bela Lugosi). The island has become its own society, with Moreau as its god.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Island of Lost Souls

Island of Lost Souls

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Led by a note-perfect performance from Charles Laughton, Island of Lost Souls remains the definitive film adaptation of its classic source material.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
SMH Staff Sydney Morning Herald 10/08/2020
It has the appalling, monstrous quality of a nightmare. Go to Full Review
Michael Sragow The New Yorker 02/16/2015
A tight, gruesome shocker, featuring Karl Struss's spooky cinematography and Charles Laughton's creepy portrayal of the mad vivisector Dr. Moreau ... Go to Full Review
Keith Phipps AV Club 02/23/2012
A
Island Of Lost Souls is a horror film based on the premise that the divide between humanity and the animal world is one that should never be crossed, but also one that's impossible to determine. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 10/14/2024
3.5/4
Charles Laughton, whose next film (The Private Life of Henry VIII) would earn him a Best Actor Oscar, is pure purring menace as Dr. Moreau. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 10/09/2022
Shot almost entirely within the studio, from ships in misty water tanks to a densely-fabricated jungle, it suggests the primitive and the perverse, a feral world as claustrophobic as it is intimidating. Go to Full Review
Martin Dickstein Brooklyn Daily Eagle 10/08/2020
If The Island of Lost Souls is also a little too silly for words, i.e., if it fails to achieve anything but "horror," that is something against which you should be warned. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Lau S Jul 29 I love this horror movie! Damn great! See more Robson C Mar 14 Edward Parker é o único sobrevivente de um naufrágio e é resgatado por um navio mercante que está levando cargas para uma ilha não conhecida. Devido a desentendimentos com o capitão do navio, ele é levado a se unir ao navio do misterioso Doutor Moreau e seu ajudante, o Dr. Montgomery. Na ilha, Edward descobre a verdade sobre Moreau: faz experiências com animais, transformando-os em seres meio animais meio humanos. Agora, Edward passa a ser um perigo para ele. Primeira versão americana do clássico de ficção científica de H. G. Wells, aqui se encontram todos os elementos clássicos do livro e do próprio filme, como a personagem Lota. Possui um bom trabalho de maquiagem e o diretor consegue criar bons momentos de tensão. No elenco, Charles Laughton faz o típico cientista louco de outras histórias e Bela Lugosi em uma pequena participação, escondido sobre uma maquiagem pesada. Um pequeno clássico do terror. See more John W 10/13/2024 Its a decent film, but it is rather boring, and takes a while to get going. See more Dave S 10/08/2024 Drifting aimlessly at sea after your ship sinks is bad enough, but things go from bad to worse when shipwrecked sailor Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) finds himself trapped on a fog-shrouded island with the evil Dr. Moreau (Charles Laughton), a mad scientist experimenting in transforming wild animals into humans (“do you know what it means to feel like God?”). Released in 1932, The Island of Lost Souls is a surprisingly effective thriller for its time, filled with subdued but effective performances, creepy lighting, claustrophobic exterior locations, and a sense of foreboding that never lets up. As an added bonus, you get to see Bela Lugosi in a small role as the Sayer of the Law, face covered in fur but with a voice as distinct as any other. See more Blu B 10/14/2023 A Classic Horror Movie. This is by far the most superior version. It's not even close. The acting is solid led by a very stong performance by Charles Laughton. He balances being sophisticated, twisted, and charming perfectly despite not being menacing. Everyone else is solid all around. This is by far the best version of Edward despite not having much backstory this one gives him the most out of all of them though. The cinematography and editing are both really strong. This has great set design with memorable shots and the monsters of the island are good and varied. Easily the best version of all of them while not necessarily the best monster makeup I've ever seen. I think what makes this one work best is they still look majority like humans with most of them having only mild deformities so it looks better. This stays focused the entire way mostly on Edward and doesn't attempt o really give the beasts any backsory. Relying mostly on Moreau through dialouge to do so and are more tools of his than anything. It results in a more focused story on the underlying commentary of trying to play god. This never feels like it is ever menadering either and follows a natural flow the entire way even when it cuts away to his girlfriend. The pacing is solid also. While this is very short and the ending which is really good is only 5 minutes or so this never feels rushed or underdevloped despite a slow burn the entire way and lack of any music outside of the title cards. It stays focused on the human connection, the underlying message, has no bizarre weird stuff, and is very well executed. Anyone who is a fan of horror movies, any actors in this, the director, or wants to see the best version of the novel adapted should watch this. Not even close in terms of this being the best one. See more Josh G 04/27/2023 While it's impressive for the time it seems to be short and not very suspenseful. It has a neat story the novel does better, the make up effects are good but not great. A mediocre universal monster film. See more Read all reviews
Island of Lost Souls

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 91% 81% Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Watchlist The Most Dangerous Game 100% 73% The Most Dangerous Game Watchlist Dracula 96% 82% Dracula Watchlist Murders in the Zoo 71% 55% Murders in the Zoo Watchlist Doctor X 83% 49% Doctor X Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis In this adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel "The Island of Doctor Moreau," Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) is shipwrecked on a remote island presided over by the mysterious Dr. Moreau (Charles Laughton). Edward discovers his host is conducting genetic experiments, and presiding over a race of half-human, half-animal hybrids, including the alluring Panther Woman and the sage Sayer of the Law (Bela Lugosi). The island has become its own society, with Moreau as its god.
Director
Erle C. Kenton
Screenwriter
Waldemar Young, Philip Wylie
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 12, 1933, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 6, 2016
Runtime
1h 10m
Most Popular at Home Now