Isle of the Dead Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Isle of the Dead Blu-ray Movie Review

"I...love...the...dead?" No, that can't be right...

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 15, 2021

Russian-American novelist Val Lewton was best known in the film world as producer of 11 low-budget films -- mostly horror -- for RKO in just four years, beginning with 1942's Cat People and ending with Bedlam. Almost all featured a revolving door of directors, and none exceeded an 80-minute runtime. Lewton's penultimate production for the studio was 1945's Isle of the Dead starring Boris Karloff -- who also appeared in The Body Snatcher, released earlier that year -- which concerns the fate of a Greek general, Pherides (Karloff), whose men have endured a bloody island victory during the first Balkan War. Pherides' late wife was buried on the island two decades earlier so, together with Boston journalist Oliver Davis (Marc Cramer), he goes to pay his respects. After he finds her tomb empty and hears ghostly singing from a nearby residence, they venture to find the whereabouts of his wife's missing corpse.

The door is opened by Swiss archaeologist Dr. Aubrecht (Jason Robards, Sr.), who regretfully informs the duo that all the local grave sites were looted by greedy villagers some fifteen years ago. Aubrecht welcomes them to stay for the night and they're joined by his watchful housekeeper Madame Kyra (Helen Thimig) and other guests including British diplomat Mr. St. Aubyn (Alan Napier), his sick wife Mary (Katherine Emery), her cautious young servant Thea (Ellen Drew), and traveling English businessman Andrew Robbins (Skelton Knaggs). Fear soon exacerbates their already-grim scenario once septicemic plague claims a life that night, and it's not long before the household divides itself into two unyielding groups: those who blame the horrible plague on religious superstition, and those who choose to follow science. A strict quarantine is immediately enforced by Pherides, hand-washing and social distancing are strongly encouraged, and at least one person can even be seen wearing a cloth, ear-looped face mask.

Well played, Warner Archive. Well played.

Cultural similarities aside, very little genuine intrigue is actually generated from the film's promising start and moody atmosphere; instead, we get a slow buildup that leads to short bursts of excitement and ultimately fizzles out. Those "science vs. superstition" elements, fueled by the prospect of a vampire-like vorvolaka, doesn't leave much of a lasting impact either. It's lightweight running time of just 71 minutes suggests a tight and efficient thriller, but Isle of the Dead feels like a short film regrettably drawn out to mid-length proportions. Even so, it's at least worth a once-over: Boris Karloff is as magnetic as ever, while the memorable locations give way to a few hypnotic and almost ethereal passages that won't be soon forgotten. But if you're expecting a non-stop fright fest, prepare to be disappointed.

Although I rarely stay up-to-date with international releases, Isle of the Dead was first promised as a Region A Blu-ray from Shout Factory in 2019 -- a disc that, mere weeks after its announcement, was unceremoniously canceled along with a few other prospective Val Lewton titles. Luckily, Warner Archive has once again come to the rescue with a new Blu-ray that features a 4K scan of the nitrate negative and lossless audio. A recent audio commentary is also included, although it's unknown whether or not this track was actually recorded for Shout Factory's canceled disc.

Isle of the Dead Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Advertised as being sourced from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative, this sparkling 1080p transfer supports one of the film's only true highlights: it's ultra-moody visuals, some of while convey a ghostly unease that, if nothing else, promises more fright than is ultimately delivered. Silvery greys and smooth contrast levels give Isle of the Dead a very thick, dense, and film-like appearance, although one not as immediately defined by strong grain as other productions from the era. Nonetheless, image detail is quite impressive during close-ups and wide shots alike, even if depth is rarely achieved since many of the film's key locations are clearly low-budget sets. Black levels run deep with no apparent crush, and no banding or other compression-related issues could be spotted during even the foggiest of scenarios. This is a striking transfer on par with Warner Archive's best efforts in recent months, affording Isle of the Dead a very polished and precise appearance that should thrill long-time fans and newcomers alike.

As usual, Warner Archive has uploaded a few short YouTube videos showing off the new transfer, including the three and a half-minute opening sequence and General Pherides' rigid quarantine enforcement. Leadership!

Isle of the Dead Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix has also been polished nicely, showcasing clear dialogue and the sophisticated original score by composer Leigh Harline, whose varied body of work includes music for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Pickup on South Street (coming soon from Criterion), House of Bamboo, and even an episode of Perry Mason. Ominous warm winds and other background noises are balanced nicely, while one of the film's genuine scares remains as potent and piercing as ever. No obvious damage could be heard along the way, although several of the lines spoken by Marc Cramer (who portrays journalist Oliver Davis) sound a bit muffled and gauzy.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature, but unfortunately not the extras.

Isle of the Dead Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray ships in a standard keepcase with original one-sheet poster art and two bonus features.

• Audio Commentary - This feature-length track by screenwriter/film Historian Dr. Steve Haberman proves to be an engaging and informative listen, covering a lot of ground including the original artwork by Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin (seen during the film's opening credits), Karloff's earlier years and Universal monster movies, supernatural mythology, meticulous hand-washing, Lewton's other films for RKO Radio Pictures, the film's moody and elegiac cinematography, notes about the supporting characters, Isle of the Dead's earlier drafts and changes made during its development, rationality vs. superstition, and much more. It's thick with trivia but everything's very well organized, with an overall focus on scholarly information delivered in an accessible manner.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:27) - A vintage promo with forced Spanish subtitles that can also be seen here.

Isle of the Dead Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Isle of the Dead, produced by Val Lewton and directed by Mark Robson (Valley of the Dolls), was promoted as a horror movie but contains very few genuine scares, with a slow-burn setup that barely even attempts to frighten until well into its final stretch -- and at just 71 minutes, that doesn't leave very much room. While this will likely be a disappointing experience for all but the most forgiving Boris Karloff fans, Isle of the Dead still features an enjoyable lead performance and more than a few memorable moments thanks to its ultra-moody cinematography and original score. At the most, it's fitfully captivating and probably not the best gateway drug for Lewton newcomers. But established fans will love Warner Archive's Blu-ray, which offers top-tier A/V treatment and a new audio commentary to boot.