Island of the Hungry Ghosts

Play trailer

Island of the Hungry Ghosts

2018

1h 38m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

During an annual crab migration on Christmas Island, locals perform rituals and a therapist works in the island's asylum seeking detention center.

Critics Consensus

A potent unraveling of human nature's often skewed sense of justice, Island of Hungry Ghosts is alluringly poetic.

Read Critics Reviews

David Stratton

The Australian

The film is beautifully photographed by Michael Latham, has an excellent music score by Aaron Cupples, and is never less than intriguing. But Brady's decision to withhold vital information from the viewer is rather self-defeating.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 15, 2019

Full Review

Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

Island of the Hungry Ghosts casts an undeniably hypnotic spell. The documentary also serves as an important reminder that the United States is far from alone in mistreating its would-be immigrants.

Mar 7, 2019

Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

The result is at once acutely distressing and quite lovely, transforming the island into something primitive and inscrutable.

Mar 7, 2019

Full Review

Christopher Llewellyn Reed

Hammer to Nail

It’s a stunning, visceral first feature, announcing the director as a major talent to watch, and watch her movie you should.

Sep 14, 2024

Full Review

Jim Ross

TAKE ONE Magazine

For such an emotive, topical subject it is remarkable the approach ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS not only takes, but succeeds with.

Feb 13, 2020

Full Review

Steven Sheehan

The Digital Fix

Not only does the title of Brady's documentary sound like the name of a Apichatpong Weerasethakul film, but the eerie, snail-paced camera pans deep inside the jungle also seem to carry the Thai director's influence.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 6, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

nefasto r

Slow paced, but with a clever approach on a delicate and increasingly important theme: immigration.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting documentary about Christmas Island detention center and the asylum seekers held there. However, it didn't really hold my attention and i found myself kindof tuning out on some of this.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Gabrielle Brady

Director

Gabrielle Brady

Writer

Gabrielle Brady

Producer

Samm Haillay

Producer

Alex Kelly

Producer

Alexander Wadouh

Producer

Skid Row Marathon

100%

100%

Skid Row Marathon

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Skid Row Marathon

Stateless

88%

%

Stateless

Watchlist

Cats of Malta

100%

94%

Cats of Malta

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Cats of Malta

Los Reyes

100%

57%

Los Reyes

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Los Reyes

Killing Patient Zero

100%

100%

Killing Patient Zero

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

During an annual crab migration on Christmas Island, locals perform rituals and a therapist works in the island's asylum seeking detention center.

Director: Gabrielle Brady
Producer: Gabrielle Brady, Samm Haillay, Alex Kelly, Alexander Wadouh
Screenwriter: Gabrielle Brady
Production Co: Third Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2019
Runtime: 1h 38m

Most Popular at Home Now