Comments on: Boris Karloff Blog-A-Thon! Isle Of The Dead

By: Stewart Geworsky

Stewart Geworsky — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:14:40 +0000

ISLE OF THE DEAD. Truly a fantastic classic within the horror genre and should be on everyone's shelf who is a collector of Boris Karloff movies. I personally have a copy of this classic, and it graces my shelf alongside the other Karloff pictures. Karloff is dearly missed. He and many other classic horror actors gave to the genre something you don't see any more. Class!

By: George D. Allen

George D. Allen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:46:39 +0000

The key to peekysdad’s rightful lament is “active in the horror genre.” The shame is that while we’re not lacking for actors of some class & versatility, it’s that the genre itself doesn’t have so much on its mind these days. Sure, Romero’s still lurking around with the “Dead” satires, and Shyamalan gamely tries to fit depth into his genre work (with “The Happening” diving perhaps too deeply into didacticism), but there’s not so much focus on challenging the actor. Lots of interest in fetishizing the visual qualities of horrors past, and a premium put on delivering narrative twists/shocks and building franchise potential. Everyone always asks “Who’s the new Cary Grant,” etc. – I’d say the arrival of the “new Karloff” depends at least somewhat on who the new James Whales and Val Lewtons turn out to be. If ever! I say the last horror performance w/Karloffian merit was from Christian Bale in “American Psycho.”

By: Peekysdad

Peekysdad — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:27:46 +0000

Mr. Allen picked a good one to bring to the table. Isle of the Dead, like most of Val Lewton's films, deserves a revival. I feel ashamed that it's current relevence had escaped my scrutiny until reading this blog. Karloff was indeed a master. I wish there was one actor with his class and versatility active in the horror genre today.

By: The Igloo Keeper

The Igloo Keeper — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:45:30 +0000

Beautifully said. Karloff's performance in this is so subtle and understated. To me, it feels like a film ahead of its time.