Island of the Fish Men (1979)
(aka: Screamers – 1981)
Directed by Sergio Martino
A ship transporting prisoners gets lost in storm and fog near the Caribbean Islands. They are thrown upon the rocks of an uncharted island and shipwrecked. The survivors, Claude, a naval officer and doctor, and several prisoners wash up on shore of this strange island. Men start disappearing in the salty marshes as they search for fresh water. They are stopped by a woman, Amanda, (Barbara Bach) on horseback who first tells them they must leave the island. Then they’re invited back to an estate, the only shelter on the island. They are greeted by the owner of the private island, Edmond Rackman (Richard Johnson) and a voodoo priestess who commands a tribe of natives to do Edmond’s dirty work. When a suspicious Claude (Claudio Cassinelli) investigates he is attacked by strange looking fishmen with Piranha-like heads and scaled skin but he is saved by Amanda. He finds out that the island is near a submerged lost city. Edmond uses these Fishmen to dive for the sunken treasures, gold and jewels, of the lost city. A scientist working with Edmond, Professor Marvin (Amanda’s Father), tells Claude the fishmen are the last survivors of Atlantis and he gets them to dive in exchange for drugs. Yes, he has them addicted to a milky drug that keeps them diving for gold. Only later do we find out that Marvin is actually turning the natives into these creatures, a point that echoes the Island of Doctor Moreau. Natives revolt, fishmen go on a feeding frenzy, a volcano erupts, Claude and Amanda fall in love and attempt to escape the sinking island.
There is tons of stuff going on in this film but somehow it works. Tightly shot to build tension in the beginning of the film, it opens to grand shots of island jungle, native ceremony, and underwater shots of swimming fishmen and the massive lost city. The Fishmen themselves look a bit silly by today’s standards but work well for this creature-feature style flick. The US released version Screamers is edited with added scenes and a new beginning, hardly necessary for the film, so I would recommend getting/watching the “Fishmen” version (Mya Entertainment). Enjoyable as a fun Saturday afternoon monster flick with some high island adventure thrown in, not to be taken too seriously. I hear there was even a sequel.
parlor of horror 
1) this looks GREAT!!
2) Barbara Bach……….. drool….
she was a scene stealer!
You had me at Barbara Bach.
and she looked quite splendid in this. but I was waiting for the scene from the poster-art/dvd box and it never really happens that way, still not complaining.
Must have been taken secretly in between costume changes on set.
I enjoyed Martino’s early work. His later stuff while enjoyable doesn’t showcase his talents. Regardless this sounds awesome
He did this right after The Mountain of the Cannibal God, on the same island, but this is a far more enjoyable movie. Torso is my fave movie by Martino, but there are a couple I haven’t seen.
Torso is great. Have you seen Case of the Scorpion’s Tail or the Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (AKA Blade of the Ripper)?
Both IMO are great films
No, but I will on your reccomendation : )
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