Isle of the Dead (1945)
December 17, 2024 11:17 AM - Subscribe

[TRAILER] Gen. Nikolas Pherides (Boris Karloff) takes leave from the 1912 Balkan War to visit a small island in Greece, where his wife is buried. While there, a plague breaks out -- and along with an American reporter (Marc Cramer) and several other travelers, Pherides is forced to stay when quarantine is declared. Soon, locals and foreigners alike succumb to the influence of Madame Kyra (Helene Thimig), who accuses a nurse (Ellen Drew) of being a vorvolaka, a malevolent vampiric demon.

Also starring Katherine Emery, Alan Napier, Jason Robards Sr., Ernst Deutsch, Sherry Hall, Erick Hanson, Skelton Knaggs.

Directed by Mark Robson. Written by Ardel Wray, along with Val Lewton (uncredited) and Josef Mischel (uncredited). Produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures. Cinematography by Jack MacKenzie. Edited by Lyle Boyer. Music by Leigh Harline.

90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently available for digital rental in the US. Also streaming on Internet Archive. JustWatch listing.
posted by DirtyOldTown (1 comment total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Another excellent Val Lewton film. The part where Mrs, St. Aubyn is accidentally condemned to her worst fear (being buried alive) is legitimately harrowing.

I am coming to really, really love Boris Karloff, who elevates nearly everything he is in.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:03 PM on December 17 [1 favorite]


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