Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau
Release date: 2014-08-24
Votes: 114
Genres: Documentary
The story of the insane scandals related to the remake of “Island of Dr. Moreau” —originally a novel by H. G. Wells—, which was brought to the big screen in 1996. How director Richard Stanley spent four years developing the project just to find an abrupt end to his work while leading actor Marlon Brando pulled the strings in the shadows. Now for the first time, the living key players recount what really happened and why it all went so spectacularly wrong.
Reviews
Wuchak
***Account of the troubled production is far more compelling than the movie*** The making of the 1996 version of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" was such a disaster that articles, books and documentaries have been made about it, like this 2014 documentary "Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau." Stanley championed the film, wrote the screenplay and was set to direct, but was fired after a few days of shooting after conflicts with Val Kilmer, who wasn't in the best of moods due to being served divorce papers while on set. Actually that wasn’t the main reason Stanley was fired. He was fine for small indie productions, but he was out of his league with a blockbuster like this. In his defense, the movie didn’t start as a blockbuster, but simply a few notches more swanky than Stanley’s previous two Indie flicks. Veteran filmmaker John Frankenheimer had to be brought in to save the production from being an utter loss. He got the job done, but his tyrannical approach didn’t help matters. The situation was so bad that Fairuza Balk (the cat-lady, Aissa) literally tried to escape the remote set in Cairns, Australia, but she was caught at the airport in the nick of time. Add to this constant rewrites and Brando's well-known eccentricities, not helped by the recent suicide of his daughter, Cheyenne, and you have a formula for cinematic chaos! The fact that a semi-coherent, somewhat entertaining movie was made from such a debacle is remarkable. But this documentary is far more interesting and amusing. It’s on par with similar docs, like “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse” (1991). Some notables of the cast & crew unfortunately weren’t interviewed (Kilmer, Ron Pearlman and David Thewlis), but more than enough were to accurately and entertainingly paint the picture of what went down. The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes. GRADE: A
Movie Recommendation
Fantastic Fungi2019-08-30A vivid journey into the mysterious subterranean world of mycelium and its fruit— the mushroom. A story that begins 3.5 billion years ago, fungi makes the soil that supports life, connecting vast systems of roots from plants and trees all over the planet, like an underground Internet. Through the eyes of renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, professor of forest ecology Suzanne Simard, best selling author Michael Pollan, food naturalist Eugenia Bone and others, we experience the power, beauty and complexity of the fungi kingdom.More...
The Den2013-12-12A young woman studying the habits of webcam chat users from the apparent safety of her apartment witnesses a brutal murder online and is quickly immersed in a nightmare in which she and her loved ones are targeted for the same grisly fate as the first victim.More...
The Island of Dr. Moreau1996-08-23A plane crash surviving attorney stumbles upon a mysterious island and is shocked to discover that a brilliant scientist and his lab assistant have found a way to combine human and animal DNA—with horrific results.More...
Ban the Sadist Videos!2005-09-06An in-depth analysis of the "Video Nasty" scandal of the early 1980s in Britain.More...
Introducing, Selma Blair2021-10-15In a quest to take control of her personal health, actor Selma Blair adapts to new ways of living while pursuing an experimental medical procedure, after revealing her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2018.More...
Smiley Face Killers2020-10-29Handsome young soccer player Jake Graham believes he is going insane, unable to shake the feeling of being stalked by something, by someone.More...
Pink Elephants2018-11-15The dynamics of a cult? Fragile actors are deconstructed by their mentor. Forbidden from discussing it with the outside, instructed to rid their lives of anyone who questions the method.More...
The Mortuary Collection2020-09-25In the phantasmagorical town of Raven's End, a misguided young girl takes refuge in a decrepit old mortuary. The eccentric undertaker chronicles the strange history of the town through a series of twisted tales, each more terrifying than the last, but the young girl's world is unhinged when she discovers that the final story... is her own.More...
Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery2015-07-09Get ready to Rock! Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang team up with the one and only KISS in this all-new, out-of-this-world adventure! We join the Gang at KISS World – the all-things-KISS theme park, as they investigate a series of strange hauntings. With help from KISS, they discover that the Crimson Witch has returned to summon The Destroyer from the alternate dimension of Kissteria! The evil duos ghastly plan, to destroy the earth! Can the Gang's cunning and KISS's power of rock save the day?!More...
Blackfish2013-06-07Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.More...
The Waterboy1998-11-06Bobby Boucher is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach discovers Boucher's hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.More...
Casper1995-05-26Casper is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat. Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.More...
In the Mood for Love2000-09-29In 1962 Hong Kong, neighbors Su Li-zhen (Mrs. Chan) and Chow Mo-wan (Mr. Chow) discover their spouses are having an affair. As they spend time together, they develop feelings for each other, but their relationship remains chaste and unspoken, reflecting societal constraints and their own moral compass.More...
It Follows2015-02-04When carefree teenager Jay sleeps with her older boyfriend for the first time, she learns that she is the latest recipient of a fatal curse that is passed from victim to victim via sexual intercourse. Death, Jay learns, will creep inexorably toward her as either a friend or a stranger. Jay's friends don't believe her seemingly paranoid ravings, until they too begin to see the phantom assassins and band together to help her defend herself.More...
The Hateful Eight2015-12-25Bounty hunters seek shelter from a raging blizzard and get caught up in a plot of betrayal and deception.More...
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 12014-11-19Katniss Everdeen reluctantly becomes the symbol of a mass rebellion against the autocratic Capitol.More...
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)2020-02-05Harley Quinn joins forces with a singer, an assassin and a police detective to help a young girl who had a hit placed on her after she stole a rare diamond from a crime lord.More...
Avengers: Endgame2019-04-24After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.More...
Top Gun: Maverick2022-05-21After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell finds himself training a detachment of TOP GUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.More...
A Quiet Place2018-04-03A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.More...
Similar Movies
Lifting the Veil: Beh...
2023-09-14Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and director Bille August showcase their meticulous attention to the sets and costumes of the "Ehrengard" film adaptation.BTS Japan Official Fa...
2018-12-04BTS Japan Official Fanmeeting Vol.4 ~Happy Ever After~ was BTS's 4th Japan Official fan club event. It took place from April 18, 2018 to April 24, 2018. The DVD was released on November 28, 2018 and the Blu-ray on December 26, 2018The Making of Double ...
2019-05-28Jean-Claude van Damme, Sheldon Lettich and more discuss the 1991 film "Double Impact" from inception to reception.Popatopolis
2009-06-10In 20 years, he's directed more films than Martin Scorsese, He's produced more profitable movies than Jerry Bruckheimer, And he's infuriated more actors than Alfred Hitchcock. The ultimate B Movie Documentary, focusing on B Movie Giant Jim Wynorski (and B Movie Celebration Mentor) and his attempt to make a feature film in 3 days. He's directed seventy feature films, but he's never made one... in THREE DAYS. Jim cuts the shooting schedule, has the actors cook their own food. A documentary featuring B-Movie legends Roger Corman, Andy Sidaris, Julie Strain, Julie K. Smith and Stormy Daniels, Popatopolis follows Jim Wynorski as he begins to film one of his many opuses "Witches of Breastwick" Jim's frenetic pace demands 100 setups per day (the Hollywood standard is 20), and he reduces his electric package to just two lights so he can concentrate on the task at hand.A great overview of a true master at work and in many ways a laser sharp dialectic on the state of B filmmaking today.Aquaman: Heroines of ...
2019-03-26Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman discuss their characters Mera and Atlanna.The Story Behind Walt...
1997-01-01From all the cartoons Walt Disney and his team create a full length feature film fun and fancy free . Learn the story of how ww2 Changed bongo and the rest of the cartoons . How Edgar burgan got to play himself and his puppets.1991: The Year Punk B...
1992-11-19David Markey's documentary of life on the road with Sonic Youth and Nirvana during their tour of Europe in late 1991. Also featuring live performances by Dinosaur Jr, Babes in Toyland, The Ramones and Gumball.BTS Memories of 2021
2022-08-19All the moments from 2021 that made BTS and ARMY shine - from the "Butter" performances that took the world by storm to the inspirational messages and marvelous performances of the BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - SEOUL online concert, the groups performance at the Grammys (a first for a Korean act!), their Artist of the Year win at the 2021 American Music Awards and more - are included.Marvel Studios Assemb...
2022-11-03Join the likes of Tatiana Maslany, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth, and Benedict Wong as they reveal how Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was conceived and shaped. Discover what it took for She-Hulk’s creators to pull off the show’s tricky tone and deliver Marvel Studios’ first truly comedic series – one that boldly breaks the fourth wall to acknowledge its own audience, no less!Oh, What a Lovely Tea...
2004-11-17Directed by the wife of 'That Kevin Smith', Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, a feature length documentary looking at the behind the scenes making of JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK.Patrice Chéreau, Pasc...
1996-01-30A look at the entire process of creating and developing Patrice Chéreau’s third staging of "In the Solitude of Cotton Fields" by Bernard Marie Koltès with Pascal Greggory and Chéreau himself. From the first reading around the table through the first contact with the performance space, rehearsals and lighting to opening night, the entire creative process unfurls in front of our eyes. The film shows us the evolving and ongoing dialogue between Greggory and Chéreau, a dialogue full of crises and magical moments of harmony and insight via which the truth, intensity, complexity, mystery and depth of Koltès’ text gradually emerge to form an implicit bond between these two men. The film also shows Chéreau directing rehearsals for Mozart’s "Don Giovanni" in Salzburg, revealing both the unity of and profound differences between his opera and theater work.The Men of Midway
2020-02-18Meet the dazzling line-up of male stars who bring Midway to life. Nick Jonas, Ed Skrein, Aaron Eckhart, Patrick Wilson, Darren Criss, Dennis Quaid, Woody Harrelson and their collaborators reveal the preparation and hard work required to play the sailors who put their lives on the line to win the War of the PacificThe Hamster Factor an...
1996-11-05A documentary following Terry Gilliam through the creation of "Twelve Monkeys."On The Run With 'The ...
2001-06-05A thorough look behind the scenes of the making of the movieOne Day of Mosfilm
1985-01-30The film tells about the main stages of the history of the country's largest studio "Mosfilm", about the work of the creative team, introduces the viewer to the outstanding masters of Soviet cinematography, with such unique groups such as the Theater-Studio of Film Actors, with the workshops of the studio.Looking Back to the F...
2009-02-10A 9-part retrospective documentary from 2009 on the trilogy’s legacy.Bo Widerberg
1977-01-01Documentary which follows Bo Widerberg during the making of 'Man on the Roof', 'The Butt' and a failed theater production.The Many Miracles of ...
2024-01-06In keeping with the intergenerational magic of 'Household Saints', filmmaker Martina Savoca-Guay has crafted a compelling new documentary, 'The Many Miracles of Household Saints', revealing the improbable story behind the making of the film.I'm a Porn Star
2013-08-17I'm a Porn Star follows the lives of guys in the neighborhood who are likely a lot more famous than you - at least on the Internet. There are an estimated 370 million pornographic websites on-line. Porn is now a thirteen BILLION dollar business. So who's doing all this moonlighting? Turns out -- probably some people you know.Jimin's Production Di...
2023-10-23This documentary chronicles the creation of FACE, Jimin's debut solo album, as he embarks on a new artistic journey.