MovieChat Forums > L'isola degli uomini pesce (1981) Discussion > WARNING about the new DVD ! Please Read ...

WARNING about the new DVD ! Please Read !

posted 15 years ago by Perkins_the_Uncanny
14 replies | jump to latest

The new MYA release is NOT the 'horror' version. This is the PG 'children's fantasy adventure' version.

MYA really should make this clear on the cover and NOT list it's alternate titles (with added gore; Screamers, Island of the Mutations, Something Waits in the Dark).

This has none of the gore inserts and is ninety-nine minutes of pure tedium, unless you want to see a film that's like 'Warlords of Atlantis' but with lower production values and all the action sucked out of it. And no Doug McLure.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] teadm 15 years ago

Thanks for the info, I was going to buy it, but now I probably won't. Did you watch a preview copy of the DVD?.

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 15 years ago

Sadly...no.

It's possibly the only horror film I've wanted to see, but never managed to track down. I ordered as soon as it was announced on Amazon and it was sent out a few days before the proper release date.

Oddly, I complained to Amazon and, expecting a war of words, they refunded me immediately ! I think they might've had more complaints.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] azrielabyss 14 years ago

How can I tell which version I have? Mine runs about 95 minutes. Any particular gore inserts I can look for?

Billy: Eat sh*t and die, Ricky!
Ricky: Eat sh*t and live, Bill.

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 14 years ago

Easy-peasy. Bear in mind I am talking about the CHILDREN'S version...which should be a bit of a clue that there is NO gore in it whatsoever.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] joshg_123 14 years ago

Actually, it's not a children's version, but the original intended version. The gory film is the recut non-Sergio Martino movie 'Screamers' or 'Something Waits in the Dark'. More girsly, yes, but in a way, it is like two different films.

Mya's disc is the uncut Island of the Fishmen flick, but not the uncut Screamers flick.

I review horror films at: http://www.oh-the-horror.com/
430 with pics!

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 14 years ago

The original intended version WAS a children's fantasy film. It was made to cash-in on the kind of fantasy films which were popular at the time with children, like 'Warlords of Atlantis' and 'At the Earth's Core'.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] kbtoys100 14 years ago

since that was the original intended version i can understand why they put that one but it would have been nice if maybe they put the other scenes from the screamers version as a special feature like image entertainment did with Virgin among the Living Dead.

ahh well i won it for $4 on ebay so its worth a watch

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 14 years ago

I just can't understand who WOULD be pleased about this version being released.

It's not known 'in the West' and certainly isn't considered a 'cult' film unlike 'Screamers'.

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] DanielKing 13 years ago

I would have thought there enough gory films out there to prevent the need for a director's preferred version to be hacked about with, simply in order to make it more gory.

I watched Martino's preferred version of Island of the Fishmen yesterday and found that there was plenty to enjoy without the need for additional dollops of gore.

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 13 years ago

I found the original slow and boring. I couldn't help but think "Doug McLure should be in this..."

Perkins...the Uncanny

"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] dubounds 10 years ago

this is getting a proper bluray/dvd release on may 27. details in link.

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=237795

[–] Perkins_the_Uncanny 10 years ago

Now THAT'S the version I wanted! Thanks for the heads up!

Perkins...the Uncanny
"Zombies, man. Creep me out..."

[–] davannacarter 10 years ago

I agree with you that the Italian version was slow. When I saw the intro I thought, "Yes! We're in for a good time." And when I saw the shipwrecked crew I thought, "Ah. Here are the victims." And I thought it was going to be some sort of horror movie about a shipwrecked crew who are at each others' throats while trying to find a way off the island as well as find a way to save themselves from whatever it is that's killing them off one by one.

But then the 3 survivors were taken to the mansion and when the doctor was eating with Barbara Bach and Richard Johnson I knew the movie was going to go in a completely different direction than what I original thought it would. Sure enough it did. It turned into some sort of Island of Dr. Moreau/treasure-hunting type movie with sea creatures involved.

In my opinion the Italian version isn't bad for what it is. But since I went in expecting a full-fledged horror I was disappointed. And I was also shocked to learn that the gory intro was the tacked on American version to make it more scary. In many cases, the American version is supposed to be tamer than the foreign version. Not the other way around.

In any case, thanks for the heads up. My big regret regarding the Italian version is that Barbara Bach didn't stand up when she was taking a bath.