Zucco and Atwill, the Z-Grade Karloff and Lugosi? While this is their only co-starring feature together pairing them as rivals, it seems that they would have benefited by more films together. Atwill is one of Zucco's former business associates whom Zucco blames for being framed for their own crime as well as finding out who was responsible for the death of his wife. The others consist of darkly sophisticated Jaqueline DeWitt, reporters Jerome Cowan and Veda Ann Borg, and John Whitney as the son of a late partner who has a romantic past with Zucco stepdaughter (Sharon Douglas).
They get together for a frightening weekend of revenge, fog, and murder.Veda Ann Borg, one of the most delightful "B" actresses in movie history, gets to steal the scenes with her delightfully sardonic lines, while DeWitt takes on a part that might have been considered for Gale Sondergaard. Why these people would agree to meet up with him on a deserted island (a la "And Then There Were None") is never really explained as it is obvious they are signing their own death warrant.
The showdown between Zucco and Atwill leads to an interesting twist that doesn't quite wrap things up, what allows Zucco a dramatic scene with which to make his exit. Each of the guests receives a strange gift, a la "Clue", which leads to some chilling moments. This most over-used of plots is still entertaining when filmed right, and "Fog Island" manages to be fun grand guignole of the chilliest kind right up to the spooky conclusion. It is a film that gets better upon repeat viewings although in spite of its creepy atmosphere remains quite creaky and sometimes painfully slow moving.
They get together for a frightening weekend of revenge, fog, and murder.Veda Ann Borg, one of the most delightful "B" actresses in movie history, gets to steal the scenes with her delightfully sardonic lines, while DeWitt takes on a part that might have been considered for Gale Sondergaard. Why these people would agree to meet up with him on a deserted island (a la "And Then There Were None") is never really explained as it is obvious they are signing their own death warrant.
The showdown between Zucco and Atwill leads to an interesting twist that doesn't quite wrap things up, what allows Zucco a dramatic scene with which to make his exit. Each of the guests receives a strange gift, a la "Clue", which leads to some chilling moments. This most over-used of plots is still entertaining when filmed right, and "Fog Island" manages to be fun grand guignole of the chilliest kind right up to the spooky conclusion. It is a film that gets better upon repeat viewings although in spite of its creepy atmosphere remains quite creaky and sometimes painfully slow moving.