Fantasy Island (2020)
Written by: ML
Edited by: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Producers: Jason Blum, Marc Toberoff, Jeff Wadlow
Writers: Jeff Wadlow, Chris Roach, Jillian Jacobs
Date Released: February 14, 2020
Cast:
Michael Peña as Mr. Roarke
Maggie Q as Gwen Olsen
Lucy Hale as Melanie Cole
Austin Stowell as Patrick Sullivan
Portia Doubleday as Sloane Madison
Jimmy O. Yang as Brax “T” Weaver / Tattoo
Ryan Hansen as J. D. Weaver
Michael Rooker as Damon
Parisa Fitz-Henley as Julia Roarke
Rating = 2.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
The story is about five strangers who arrived in Fantasy Island to live out their deepest fantasies. According to the proprietor and caretaker, Mr. Roarke, the only rule is that they have to go through its natural conclusion whatever it may be. After they were taken into each of their desired fantasy, they start to discover more about themselves and see the horror that was unfolding. Without knowing that they were in a single fantasy, they all get shocked when their adventures merge and go downhill. Towards the end, they realized that they were all involved in an accidental death and that they were in a revenge fantasy.
Gore Factor
There are not much blood and gore in this movie but the most notable ones are the violent scenes with Dr. Torture, the gunfight between the soldiers and the masked gang, and the black liquid that squirts out of the eyes of those who died in the fantasy world. During the earlier parts where the guests arrive, there were a few jump scares every time a burned muddy man appears.
The Grave Review
The ensemble cast of characters helped this movie gain traction. Without the famous names and great acting, this would’ve been a low-quality psychological thriller.
It was interesting to see each character as they live out their fantasies. Though it can be dragging at some point, it was a good premise for what is yet to come. As a Blumhouse film, audiences would already have an idea that this will end in tragedy but not in the sense that the movie presented.
Speaking of which, the best part of this movie is the shocking turn of events when it was revealed how the characters were interconnected with each other. The charred apparition was eventually explained. Even how the island works was revealed in the cave scenes. Since this can be identified as a psychological horror, Melanie’s somewhat shallow reason for revenge is accepted as an effect of her childhood trauma and possible mental illness.
The ending is also good in the sense that every character achieved the closure they deserve, though only three of them were able to escape the island.
If you have an eye for detail, the coolest thing in this movie is the use of colors. When the characters regrouped at the entrance of the cave, the color of their clothes seem like they come from a superhero team. Melanie was wearing red, Brax was in blue, Patrick in green, Sloane in yellow, and Gwen in pink. Of course, Mr. Roarke was wearing white. This might be unintentional but it was cool.
Overall, this movie is good if you are looking for a psychological thriller that tackles regrets and would make you think twice about wishing and fantasizing.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Fantasy Island (2020) two and one-half graves out of five graves.
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