Island of the Doomed
- Year: 1967
- Country of origin: West Germany, Spain, USA
- Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
- Director: Mel Welles
- Length: 88 min
- IMDb rating:
What was the terrifying secret of the vampire tree?
Synopsis
Island of the Doomed (1967) follows a group of tourists who travel to an isolated island to visit the estate of a renowned botanist. As unexplained deaths occur and victims are found drained of blood, they learn the scientist has created hybrid plants capable of feeding on human beings. This Spanish-German horror film blends mad-scientist fantasy, gothic isolation, and ecological menace while examining scientific obsession, exploitation of nature, and human vulnerability.
Criticism
-
For what it’s worth, this rather dull Ten Little Indians plot is enlivened at the end by the gruesome, slime-drooling tree…
Jonathan Rigby, Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema (Signum Books, 2016) -
Island of the Doomed certainly lives up to its name: Whoever falls under the spell of this celluloid monstrosity is indeed doomed—doomed to an hour and a half of unrelieved boredom. Scenes of the annoying characters eating, walking, talking, arguing and engaging in illogical behavior (thinking there’s a killer loose on the island, several characters go out walking by themselves) go on and on and on … The only thing that might save this bland cinematic salad would be a generous helping of horror inspired by the movie’s only intriguing character—the tree.
Mark Clark and Bryan Senn, Sixties Shockers: A Critical Filmography of Horror Cinema, 1960-1969 (McFarland, 2011)
Selected disc options for Island of the Doomed
| Extras | Mondo Macabro BD-ALL/US 2025 | Shout! Factory DVD-1/US 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Commentary by David Flint | has extra | |
| Fantastique in the Catalan Mediterranean - Interview with Ángel Sala | has extra | |
| George Martin, the First Spanish Action Hero - Interview with Xavi Sánchez Pons | has extra | |
| Interview with Director/Co-Writer Mel Welles - Conducted by Pete Tombs | has extra | |
| Elvira Segments | has extra | |
| Stills Gallery - Publicity | has extra | |
| Theatrical Trailer | has extra |
Notes
- Mondo Macabro’s “Limited Edition” Blu-ray includes a 24-page booklet with writing by Ismael Fernandez (“‘Island of the Doomed’ at the Tail End of the First Wave of Spanish Horror”) and four art cards.
- Shout! Factory’s “Elvira’s Movie Macabre Double Feature” DVD also includes The House That Screamed (1969).
~ Have you spotted a mistake or would like to suggest a disc be added? Request an update ~
Ultimate Edition
Combine the best digital presentation with a selection of choice extras for the ultimate edition.
-
Fantastique in the Catalan Mediterranean (27:40) -
George Martin, the First Spanish Action Hero (57:22) -
Interview with Director/Co-Writer Mel Welles (2002, 31:11)
| Presentation |
Mondo Macabro BD 2025
|
|---|---|
| Extras | Audio Commentary by David Flint Mondo Macabro BD |
| Fantastique in the Catalan Mediterranean - Interview with Ángel Sala Mondo Macabro BD | |
| George Martin, the First Spanish Action Hero - Interview with Xavi Sánchez Pons Mondo Macabro BD | |
| Interview with Director/Co-Writer Mel Welles - Conducted by Pete Tombs Mondo Macabro BD | |
| Stills Gallery - Publicity Mondo Macabro BD | |
| Theatrical Trailer Mondo Macabro BD |