What was the terrifying secret of the vampire tree?
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.
-
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 | |
| The Career of Actor George Martin | has extra | |
| Horror Films Produced in the Costa Brava Area | has extra | |
| Interview with Director/Co-Writer Mel Welles | has extra | |
| Elvira Segments | has extra | |
| Publicity | has extra | |
| Theatrical Trailer | has extra |
Notes
- Mondo Macabro’s “Limited Edition” Blu-ray includes a booklet and 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? Let us know ~