mlraymond Review of Horror Island

Horror Island (1941)

Extremely silly, thoroughly entertaining comedy thriller

[6/10 · 24 June 2007]

This is an uneven film that can't quite choose between being a mystery thriller and an outright comedy. It has wonderfully atmospheric sets, including the dark, wet wharf at night, the old castle, even the dingy stores and offices along the waterfront where genial con man hero Dick Foran and mild mannered professor Hobart Cavanaugh have their places of business. Lewis Howard is quite funny as the rich playboy who always seems to be either asleep or bored, Foy Van Dolsen is effective as the mysterious Phantom, and the team of Dick Foran and Fuzzy Knight works well. Walter Catlett is amusing as an eccentric detective in a sort of reprise of his confused police constable role in Hawks' Bringing Up Baby. The rest of the supporting cast turn in good performances, the standard Universal theme music is used effectively, and the movie contains enough surprises to be quite entertaining. The basic storyline, combining the matching interests of a hunt for pirate treasure, along with an old dark house mystery, holds viewer interest for the brief running time and provides some good old fashioned movie fun.