Zombie Island Massacre: A thriller, directed by John N. Carter. David Broadnax is co-author of the story and co-stars as Paul, a photographer. Movie Guide: code rating, R; sex, several bedroom scenes have nothing to do with the story; violence, a lot; nudity, considerable female; language, some profanity. Theaters: Cinemas 8 at Shannon, Belmont, South DeKalb, Westgate, Starlight. `Zombie' gives horror movies a bad name
The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution - January 14, 1985
By Scott Cain Staff Writer
Rita Jenrette, ex-wife of a disgraced ex-congressman, makes an inauspicious movie debut in "Zombie Island Massacre." She is sufficiently amateurish to make Zsa Zsa Gabor seem a great tragedienne.
Fortunately for Mrs. Jenrette, she is surrounded by artistes who are every bit as incompetent as she. She is, therefore, prominent only because of the size of her generously displayed bosom.
Ian MacMillan, who plays Mrs. Jenrette's husband, is a New York actor with a long string of credits, but he seems more like an overweight accountant who always wanted to act and talked his way into a role in this low-budget picture by offering to work cheaply.
"Zombie Island Massacre" is enough to give horror movies a bad name. For one thing, there are not necessarily any zombies in the movie. At one point, an incantation is spoken over two ghoulish-looking creatures, butsubsequent events sh ed doubt on their authenticity.
The plot is stolen straight from 1940s thrillers of the "let's split up so we can get bumped off one by one" variety. In this case, a dozen Caribbean tourists are taken by their guide to witness a voodoo ceremony and, when time comes to leave, their bus won't start, the driver has vanished and the guide volunteers to go for help. Soon, the stranded tourists are biting the dust. When the explanation finally comes, it has nothing to do with the supernatural and is, therefore, a great disappointment.
Director John Carter, who previously worked as an editor, ought to know better than to use flashbacks in a horror movie, but he makes this ghastly mistake twice. He also doesn't know how to film action scenes. The camera cuts away from each murder, not because Carter is afraid of offending audiences with bloodshed, but because he doesn't possess the technique. Back to the drawing boards, boys.
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ZOMBIE ISLAND': CRUISE RIGHT ON BY
The Record (New Jersey) - March 8, 1985
Author: By Lou Lumenick, Movie Critic: The Record
Trivial Pursuit time.
Q. In what grade-Z horror movie does erstwhile congressional wife and Playboy centerfold Rita Jenrette make her film debut?
A. "Zombie Island Massacre. "
Q. In the former home of what actor does most of the action (and that's using the term loosely) take place?
A. Errol Flyon's.
That's all you absolutely need to know about "Zombie Island Massacre," an amateurish mishmash wherein a dozen American tourists are butchered, one by one, by some drug-crazed Rastafarians on the mythical Caribbean island of St. Michel. Call it voodoo hooey.
The special effects gore isn't good enough to please splatter-movie fans, let alone frighten anyone over the age of 4. The acting (epecially Jenrette) and script (based on an "original idea" by black soap star Al Broadnax, who also produced and plays an "ace photographer") are laughable. The film's production notes suggest it might appeal to "Rocky Horror Show" camp followers, but John Carter's direction is lethargic enough to turn even the most dogged bad-movie aficionados into zombies.
"Zombie Island Massacre" opens today in neighborhood theaters. Jenrette briefly bares her breasts in the R-rated movie
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