I'm so surprised this movie isn't more famous than it is. In terms of quality it's right up there alongside the well-known horror films of the early 1930s. The atmosphere is adequately creepy, the makeup effects are top notch, and Charles Laughton is entertaining and effective. Lugosi is good too in his small role. There are some issues - Arlen's acting, for one, and I also felt the pacing wasn't perfect - but overall this is a quality horror film and a worthy adaptation of the novel.

So much greatness is found in this horror flick. The cast is uniformly excellent with Laughton being the obvious standout, the lighting and camera work is spooky and exciting, the makeup effects are really cool, and the climactic moments made my hair stand on end.

79.125

Good classic horror/sci-fi movie with a creepy performance from Charles Laughton. It was a little dull at time, which is surprising considering the short runtime, but well worth a watch.

This is one of the best of the early Hollywood horror film's I've seen.Charles Laughton gives a incredibly twisted performance as the "mad" scientist Dr. Moreau and really seemed to relish his role.The final 15 minutes is one of the great endings to any movie I've seen.

Like The Invisible Man and Frankenstein, Island of Lost Souls is a seminal work of '30s horror whose mooted mistrust of medical science, while somewhat dated, makes for many of the most memorable moments gifted upon an entire genre. Worthy of Whale and (while we're at it) a great Simpsons recreation, it's a film of dual vitality and historical worth.

A great horror movie from the 30s that still manages to be creepy and unsettling today. It starts quick and has a short run time that doesn't allow a minute to be wasted. The acting ranged from very good (Laughton and Lugosi) to good enough (Burke and Arlen). Horror fans really shouldn't miss this as it's one of the first great ones.

very fun, bela lugosi is ridiculously awesome in a small role

The guy playing Parker SUCKS as an actor The rest of this movie is top notch

The script is a welcome, subversive assault on all things righteous, and only becomes more disturbing when chewed through the brooding, sensual megalomania that Laughton embodies here. The animalistic crying of "Knives!" is ridiculously spooky - having the symbolic reverberations to back up the visual. And the screaming.

Like FREAKS, the film preys on the unsettling implications of Darwinism, that we're just a genetic mistake away from beasts. In this sense, it's compelling viewing with a number of eccentric, disturbing angles to it. However, Arlen is a stiff leading man, and his character is erratic and undefined. Laughton has a little fun with the role, but I wouldn't rank it among his best work. At times it's all a little too campy. But it doesn't waste much time, and occasionally drew me into its odd world.

Charles Laughton gives a chilling performance; the kind that reminds me why the sideshow psychos they throw in modern movie just don't do it for me.

The lead actor is pretty bad, but Laughton is excellent as the insane yet refined Dr. Moreau, and Lugosi has a great, memorable scene. Some of the creatures are very well designed, as are the sets. I found the pacing, tension, and atmosphere to be better than most early horror, it just needs a better soundtrack.

Definitive version of the Wells novel, with Laughton really chowing down on his very juicy role. Leila Hyams is fascinating as the cat girl, Lugosi excellent, all the settings and backgrounds are smashingly atmospheric. Accused of being tasteless in its time, which is probably fair enough -- the final scene is as chilling as anything ever put onscream (as Forry Ackerman might say!).

Bloodchilling. One of the best horror films of the 1930s (or any other era). It beats the crap out of both the remakes

A great concept hindered by talented but inconsistent execution. Laughton is great and the tension is well built thanks to the makeup work and some good shot choices, but the rest of the acting isn't up to par and the ending is a bit lacking.