The Island of Dr. Moreau

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The Island of Dr. Moreau

PG,

1977,

1h 38m,

Horror/

Fantasy/

Adventure/

Romance/

Sci-Fi

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Watchlist

52%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

After his ship sinks, Andrew Braddock (Michael York) washes ashore on a tropical island owned by Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster). While waiting for a ship to return him to civilization, Braddock becomes disturbed by the strange creatures roaming the island, and at the same time falls for the lovely Maria (Barbara Carrera), who lives with Moreau. Soon Braddock discovers that the creatures are the results of Moreau's sinister experiments, and plots to escape before he himself becomes a victim.

Critics Consensus

The Island of Dr. Moreau takes a reasonably entertaining pass at adapting its classic source material, although key scenes are let down by struggles with special effects.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Lancaster, despite his ungodly ideas, is given some resonance as a man who thinks his demented work is for the betterment of the human race. York gives one of his best performances, and Barbara Carrera's enigmatic beauty is evocatively treated.

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David Pirie

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Only Michael York's metamorphosis into a beast has any impact, and the film predictably fails to follow through even on that.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

May 9, 2005

The performers display a kind of disciplined intelligence that keeps them from bursting through the style of the film into comic limbo.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Mar 2, 2026

5/10

Even with the notable source material, the dependable stars, and the all-around morbidness of this sci-fi/horror spectacle, the pacing is a touch slow.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 11, 2021

3/4

Less an exercise in stark horror and moody ambience -- the defining traits of the classic 1932 adaptation Island of Lost Souls, starring Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau -- and more a straightforward adventure yarn with a sci-fi bent.

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Ruth Batchelor

Los Angeles Free Press

Oct 22, 2019

It scared the hell out of me and I loved it.

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George L

Aug 28, 2017

Those who Break the Law, must go back to the House of Pain!

Poe W

May 20, 2017

Samuel Z. Arkoff AIP production of the H.G. Wells novel is pretty entertaining. Burt Lancaster plays the mad scientist Moreau on his isolated desert island where he's created a pack of man-beasts who he controls like a maniac prison warden. Michael York (who in my mind is the epitome of oddball 1970s film heroes) plays our protagonist who's washed up on the island after his ship sunk at sea. York raises questions the ethics of Moreau's experiments and Moreau slowly beings to lose control of his creatures. Wells' story raises interesting questions about the animalistic nature of humans and despite this being an Arkoff exploitation flick, manages to also be smart. The special effects are good and Lancaster is particularly good in the lead as Moreau. However, the film does come off a pretty silly at times, particularly a fight between the bull-man and a real tiger, which although is fun to watch a stuntman go at it with a tiger felt corny and out of place with what otherwise seemed like a pretty smart bit of science fiction. Overall this film is probably the most faithful adaptation of Wells' story, though it's nowhere as good as 1932's "Island of Lost Souls" but is leaps and bounds better than the 1990s Marlon Brando/Val Kilmer debacle. Barbara Carrera and Richard Basehart also appear in the film

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Don Taylor

Director

Burt Lancaster

Dr. Paul Moreau

Michael York

Andrew Braddock

Barbara Carrera

Maria

Nigel Davenport

Montgomery

Richard Basehart

Sayer of the Law

The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - The Possibilities Are Endless

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - Tiger vs. Tigerman

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - No More Law

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - Opening the Cages

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - What Were They?

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - Escaping the Island

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - Let Him Up

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - What Are You Doing to Me?

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - His Is the House of Pain

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The Island of Dr. Moreau: Official Clip - I Remember It All!

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Synopsis

After his ship sinks, Andrew Braddock (Michael York) washes ashore on a tropical island owned by Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster). While waiting for a ship to return him to civilization, Braddock becomes disturbed by the strange creatures roaming the island, and at the same time falls for the lovely Maria (Barbara Carrera), who lives with Moreau. Soon Braddock discovers that the creatures are the results of Moreau's sinister experiments, and plots to escape before he himself becomes a victim.

Director: Don Taylor
Producer: Skip Steloff, John Temple-Smith
Screenwriter: Al Ramrus, John Herman Shaner, Richard Alan Simmons
Production Co: American Internat'l Pics, Major Productions, Cinema 77
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 38m

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