Zombie Island Massacre (1984)

Zombie Island Massacre (1984)

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“I think I can safely promise you a tour you’ll never forget!”

Synopsis:
A group of tourists in Jamaica are knocked off one after the other by a mysterious killer in the dark.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Caribbean Islands
  • Horror
  • Serial Killers

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this cult horror flick — which possesses the dubious distinction of being the last title reviewed in his book — is (or was) primarily notable for starring Rita Jenrette, ex-wife of Congressman John Jenrette (involved in the notorious ABSCAM scandal). Rita — who also posed for a Playboy spread — has an enormous bosom, which she gets to show off several times at the beginning of the film.

Unfortunately, she and nearly everyone else in the cast are given inane, cliched dialogue, and the acting is mediocre at best. About halfway through, I finally realized that this film is actually camp in disguise — and that if it had been played up a few notches, it may have been mildly amusing. Unfortunately, everyone takes themselves far too seriously, and thus the story falls flat. An annoying final note: there are no “real” zombies in this flick.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Some genuine suspense, as well as a surprising (if unsatisfactory) plot twist

Must See?
No. Any notoriety this film once had is long gone. It’s only worth watching if you’re a true fan of slasher flicks.

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One thought on “Zombie Island Massacre (1984)”

  1. First viewing. When a horror movie like this one works rather well as a sleeping pill, it’s not a must.

    ‘ZIM’ seems to want to bore audiences to death. There’s tons of filler: much talk about how the group is going to get out of the mess it’s in; and, oh, the walking and walking in the woods – in the murky dark – as the group makes its way to refuge. Speaking of murky, most of the movie is so badly lit, you hardly see most of the ‘fright’.

    Yes, there is a twist in the latter section – provided by some kind of character actor who apparently studied acting with Mr. Magoo.

    And, yes, had they pumped up the volume, this could have worked as camp. But the dialogue and acting are not howlingly bad; they have the feel of the Chinese water torture.

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