Settlers in a new land sent if they have it made until they realize that their leaders have every intention of doing what the leaders of their old country had done. This becomes very apparent when a young man (Kerwin Mathews) is discover having an affair with a married woman. As the son of the leader, he is send to hard labor call she fines and accidental fate that they deem as God's punishment. When he ends up in another affair, he is sent to the local prison but manages to escape thanks to a boating accident and ends up in the hands of the pirates led by Christopher Lee.
The pirates are looking for hidden treasure which they have heard is on the island, and this results in them using the townsfolk and their leaders to find it, threatening them all with instantaneous death if they refuse. But Mathews and some other men are in hiding, and this leads to plenty of action and a return to the scene where the original young lady met her fate.
Colorful and action filled, this is pretty gruesome stuff in spots which considering that it came from Hammer is not surprising since they made horror films. The presence of Lee as well in a non horror role adds to that aspect only briefly utilized in the film. It's difficult to say who is more villainous, the righteous leaders of the community or the ruthless men of the sea, but that element really isn't made to be important as the pirates take over the island. It's fast moving, and its title really make sense when you discover what certain parts of the island contain.
The pirates are looking for hidden treasure which they have heard is on the island, and this results in them using the townsfolk and their leaders to find it, threatening them all with instantaneous death if they refuse. But Mathews and some other men are in hiding, and this leads to plenty of action and a return to the scene where the original young lady met her fate.
Colorful and action filled, this is pretty gruesome stuff in spots which considering that it came from Hammer is not surprising since they made horror films. The presence of Lee as well in a non horror role adds to that aspect only briefly utilized in the film. It's difficult to say who is more villainous, the righteous leaders of the community or the ruthless men of the sea, but that element really isn't made to be important as the pirates take over the island. It's fast moving, and its title really make sense when you discover what certain parts of the island contain.