Devil's Island (2021) User Reviews

Good start but no ending...

[davesykes · 3/10 · 21 July 2021]

The movie looks like a draft of a movie. It's lacking all the parts where you'd normally go " Ahh ok !" So much is left unsaid that you have to make your own story with the 2 or 3 details they do tell us. The girl has a certain charm and is not a bad actress. That can't be said for all the other actors in this "movie"

Good premise that runs out of gas in the middle of the lake

[tarchon · 4/10 · 23 May 2023]

The synopsis says that "the locals are less than welcoming and trying to hide a secret." The locals actually succeed in hiding the secret since the movie just stops before we find out what the secret is. I actually liked it pretty well up to the point where it started to become clear that the writers weren't sure what it was all about. It's not stunningly original or anything, but the setup works pretty well; it just sets up and.... the end. It's kind of a shame since a lot of things really seemed to be clicking, like Elaine Alexander's performance. Some plot elements defy common sense, which I suppose comes back to a weak script. Could have been a surprisingly good movie if they'd left that to bake all the way.

Ok thriller, ruined by the last two minutes.

[JaneBingley · 3/10 · 9 June 2021]

Samantha's grandparents are found murdered in their little house on a tiny island. Samantha inherits, and she goes to live there. The tiny seaside town has many small islands, where people have their homes.

In order to get to the house, they must use a boat.

We learn nothing of the grandparents, or any other of Samanthas family or history. She just turns up at the house, and starts living there. No one is interested in why the old folks died, and they are never mentioned.

The town people are hostile towards the newcomer, and wants her to leave. (Yawn) We are not told why that is. She doesn't bother anyone, where she is.

She discovers that someone has been in her house, and she is so laid back about the whole situation that its ridiculous.

Normal reaction for any sane human being, would have been fear or terror. You are alone on an island, where two people have been killed. And someone is clearly stalking you in your home. That should create some emotions!

The ending, and lack of explanation to anything, ruins what could have been a nice thriller. We are not given any motive for why the person does what s/he does. And even more annoying, there are literally only two suspects. Yup, there are three other actors in this movie, but one of them is taken care of, leaving only two suspects.

The ending sucks big time, with even more irrational behaviour from Samantha.

And why did they have to name the sheriff Sam?

No horror, no supernatural, no sex, no nudity, no profanity.

Wow...

[kleigh-49033 · 1/10 · 17 June 2023]

So, normally I really enjoy slow burning thrillers that don't rely on jump scares and buckets of blood just for the hell of it. However.....this one is just awful. There is essentially no plot. At all.

This girl is given an island as an inheritance from her grandparents who died (no explanation as to how they died) and she up and moves in. Finds someone has been in her home..then the mute lady tells her to leave because of "dangerous people". She refuses and the mute lady has gone before she can even turn around. The one man who was nice to her is seemingly snatched by the "bad guys?" Who seem to have something to do with wolves as the imagery was seen a few times and a wolf mask is left at the man's house. The girl was given a picture of 5 masked (wolf) men in a photo by the mute lady the day she saw her.

There are almost no characters other than the ones mentioned and the sheriff. Who is very dismissive of everything she says the whole movie until she shoots the one man who tried to attack her with a hammer and kills him. The sheriff's explanation was the man had a shrine to her. At the end we see the lead load up her shotgun then it cuts to morning and she's standing there on her island covered in blood it seems? And that's the end. Exactly ZERO loose ends were tied up. None. Who were the people in the photo? Who was this "wolf" people cult group whatever? What happened that last night? Did she slaughter everyone on all the surrounding islands? Who took/killed the man who was helping her? He had told her to meet him somewhere secret so he could explain but was taken before that of course. This movie is a complete waste of time unless you enjoy spending 1.5 hours of your life just to not know what happened. Wish I could get that time back...sooo frustrated.

Thriller?!!!!

[ellenfem · 1/10 · 6 August 2021]

Well, if you're really into a girl walking around her island for an hour and eleven minutes, then this is the film for you. By definition a thriller should have some suspenseful moments. The biggest element of suspense was waiting to see what the mute lady was writing!

Yikes...

[tbuestrin · 2/10 · 7 August 2021]

Did the writers just simply run out of ideas or forget the entire beginning in the last 15 minutes of the movie? So who are the masked people that killed Mort??? All of that mystery building up and we're left with Michael had a shrine? That's it!?!?!? Terrible.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME

[gmmwxmpvw · 1/10 · 2 April 2023]

Appalling storyline - a million questions & not one of them answered. Main character is not a bad actor, she could be pretty good if given some decent material to work with... Questions I have - who were the grandparents & how were they connected? How was Michael connected? Did anyone search for Mort? Who were the two cloaked figures? Why didn't her dad ever answer? Why did the lady at the end say hello? Was Mrs Hunter a wolf person? What was a wolf person? Where was "the devil?" Also what the hell was going on the entire time. Do not bother, not worth it in the slightest!

I will say though I quite like that the main character had a different body type to most young female characters, that was refreshing.

The best part of this movie...

[fsdqpqkt · 1/10 · 16 September 2021]

Was reading the reviews after watching the movie.

I have so many questions..... thank god it was short. True "face plant".

Complete Waste Of Time

[gtrey1 · 3/10 · 10 July 2021]

To many questions left unanswered leads to an incoherent script that made no sense. It felt like they ran out money and just had to end it. The only bright spot is the lead actress who pretty good. But she can't salvage a poorly written script. Don't waste your time. Find something else to watch - anything else.

Oh my God this is awful

[robbie_grieve · 24 July 2021]

One of the most random storylines I've ever come across, with even more randomness thrown in throughout.

There is literally no explanation for anything that happens in this movie:

1. Grandparents are murdered but we don't know how or why.

2. Girl inherits island (we only know this from the synopsis).

3. Weird locals apparently don't like her and loads of people seem to be watching her.

4. There's a woman who doesn't talk.

5. Sheriff isn't very nice to her for no reason.

6. Weird guy gives her the welcome tour then is just weird.

7. Sleazy guy tries to be nice but comes across as creepy, gets bumped off for no reason.

8. Girl gets random boxes of creepy stuff left for her with no meaning.

9. Weird guy appears in house with a hammer to kill her even though it turns out he was obsessed with her.

10. The film ends with her security bell ringing, her loading up a gun then cutting to her covered in blood with a cup of tea....who/what did she kill, why were they after her, what did she take in her tea?

All in all, a terrible film, terrible plot line and terrible acting!

Amazing!

[landonmccarpet · 10/10 · 12 July 2022]

I think it was amazing. Although it feel like it ended too soon and there could have been more mention of the cult I do really like it. I think the camera movement is perfect, it gives us a sense that she is being watched whether she knows it or not. The cuts are unusual but that makes it Surreal and interesting. The lack of music and audio at some points added more suspense for me and actually positively added to the experience for me. I think people judge this movie too much.

Low budget but some unknown is happening

[jmbovan-47-160173 · 6/10 · 10 July 2021]

Low budget film as an element of flatness to it and amateur production. But, something about this film drew me to it. Typically, I want to have a clear cut ending. This film lacks a clear understanding of what is happening, but somehow I appreciated the fight of the main character. Many won't like it, but I appreciated the mystery and the strong survival instinct presented. Again, low budget and amateur qualities abound, but for some reason that didn't bother me.

Awful

[paulwattriley · 1/10 · 14 October 2021]

Do people actually get paid for making these movies? There is nothing decent about this film from pathetic nonsense story (if you can call it a story), acting, dialogue and even the camera work.

It is also full of stupidity and a lot of pointless scenes that make no sense. The best is I know she is a blonde, she has a boat but decides to jump in the water and swim to another boat..really! That is just one of many.

Some people need a career change.

PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THIS

[amylau-56393 · 15 June 2021]

I don't normally write reviews but if I can save at least one person from watching this mind numbingly ridiculous garbage, then writing this will be worth it.

So many plot holes, they don't explain anything about anything...

I'd rather eat the stale mouldy popcorn that's stuffed between my couch cushions and watch sharknado than watch this ever again.

Zero plot. Zero character development. Bad.

[yppddccths · 1/10 · 6 October 2021]

It ends at the point where you think you'll finally get some answers as to what is happening.

Nope. Just ends.

Apparently you can live on this tiny island & murder people with no consequences. That's literally the plot.

Potential is wasted

[roger_towne · 2/10 · 12 June 2021]

There was potential for this movie, but the story was just way too shallow. Sean and Taylor King just never developed it enough. The end result is once done, you can't help feeling "what's the point?". Another waste by amateurs.

Don't watch

[laglow · 1/10 · 5 August 2021]

Someone PLEASE explain to me this movie! I know she wa ts to live on her grandparents island but no one wants her there. But why wre her grandparents killed? And what's the deal with her dad?

Rashed, undeveloped, more a draft than finished product

[sharesandgames · 2/10 · 27 December 2021]

My comments in no particular order and in my opinion only.

Not bad acting from main actress. She is just pretty enough to pull it off when she is on camera, solo, for most of the film. It would not work with a less good looking actress.

A couple of scenes are bad, for example not spotting the box at the end of the pier instantly and not until she literally turns to look at it head on.

Many plot holes. Did Michael's boat really drift with the currents to arrive right outside her house? Come on!

You do not jump in the water and swim to an unknown boat to climb in and investigate (because you are vulnerable in the water, you do not know if you can climb into it once you get there, and you get wet), you rather get into your boat and go to it!

What was wrong with Michael? Why does he continue his crazy attacks once he has been exposed and with a gun pointed at him? What is he, some sort of special forces ninja guy all of a sudden? Infatuated, maybe, completely loony and not been locked up already?

Why is Mrs. Hunter even in the story? It's meaningless. Maybe Michael killed her and then also killed Mort. But then there would have been chaos at the village. And even with Michael gone, the attacks continue. Are they all homicidal sociopaths? Come on.

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME

[donchappelear-81026 · 1/10 · 9 July 2021]

This movie was decent and then the it ended. No explanation, no resolving the conflict just credits.

Honestly this should of never been made, and i think would hurt an actors career.

[oldandeerieratk · 1/10 · 1 November 2021]

No dialogue, no vision, no artistic originality, really no point, it is like they wanted to make a movie but had no script and just shot it as they went along, but even then i would imagine it would of came out better. I rarely think a movie is a waste of time but i felt like i could used this time to clean my house, or even self reflect in a dark quite room, can you imagine watching this movie twice!? Now that would be a true horror. I bet first year film students would pull off something more interesting and believable then this.

What Did I Miss?

[ladymidath · 8/10 · 26 November 2021]

I actually enjoyed Devil's Island. The suspense and buildup was excellent without relying on too much blood and jump scares, the lead actress was good as were the other actors and the scenery was beautiful. But the ending was unfinished. It seemed to just end abruptly without any real payoff. Was Michael trying to hurt her? What about the cult? It left more questions than answers. As much as I enjoyed the movie, and I don't mind open ended movies, this felt kind of unfinished. Still, not too bad.

Not Great But Better Than You Might Expect

[sddavis63 · 6/10 · 15 March 2022]

I didn't think this was a bad movie. It's promoted as a horror movie, and if you go into it expecting the stereotypical format, you'll be disappointed. There's no gore, any violence is implied more than real and while Elle Alexander - the star - is a very attractive, there's absolutely zero nudity or sexuality contained. So it checks very few of what most people think of when they tune in to this kind of film. But it does have a pretty good atmosphere to it, and certainly a lot of mystery - maybe, in the end, a bit too much mystery as a lot of questions are left unanswered by the ending.

Samantha (Alexander) moves to a small island home she inherited from her grandparents. The locals don't like her, and some of them apparently want to drive her away. That's basically the story. Having spent a few years closely connected to a small island off the coast of Newfoundland that didn't get many visitors, I could kind of relate to a newcomer not being warmly welcomed. It's a short movie at about 1:11, but it moves fairly slowly. It's safe to say that while it's not boring, it's not fast paced and those who want a lot of action won't find this to their liking. The performances were decent enough, and even if everything isn't explained it's not a hard movie to watch, as long as you don't go into it expecting major excitement and thrills.

Simply put, it's not outstanding, but it's better than the reviews and ratings would have you believe. (6/10)

Good intentions but many issues with realisation.

[thranjax · 5/10 · 22 September 2022]

SPOILERS.

The problem with this film isn't the plot, as such, that is pretty straightforward. Samantha's grandparents are murdered: it would seem they were murdered by a satanic cult, which they may or may not have been part of. The cult try to scare Samantha off. One tries to warn her and is killed by the others, another called Michael ends up trying to attack Samantha and she shoots him. The "Sheriff" - almost certainly the final cult member - reveals that Michael was obsessed with her (probably true). Later, as Samantha seems to fit into the community, someone else comes to the island uninvited and she shoots them (we don't see who, but given there is only the Sheriff left as a character or cult member, it is presumably him).

What the film has going for it is Elle Alexander, who is very good in her performance. She is also - not that this matters - very attractive in a refreshing not-a-typical-blonde-stick-insect way. If Michael doesn't need his shrine anymore can I have it? Amazingly she seems to be in very few productions, someone take note.

But... Samantha does not seem to be investigating the murders. She comes from Vegas and is a cheerful person at first, dancing around, confident in herself: WHY has she moved to this island to live on her own? There needs to be a character driven reason for that, but nothing is provided. She has no dark past, no issue with the murders, not even curiosity about them. She makes one vague phone call to her dad to invite him over, but otherwise seems to have no friends or past despite being clearly an attractive, pleasant, fun-loving person. This makes no sense. The cult makes no sense: why do they need that particular island? What was the relationship with the grandparents? Why are ALL the local community so angry with her all the time (until the very end)? How can all these murders happen without anyone caring or noticing? Why can't that intensely irritating mute woman write more than one or two words at a time in huge writing or write in full explanatory sentences? How can such a short film seem so LONG and boring?

The poster and promotion are somewhat misleading as well.

There is an intention to provide a suspenseful, creepy thriller here, but the desire to obfuscate what is going on kills the whole thing stone dead, and the character motivations make no sense whatsoever.

False advertising

[maryloulovesdinosaurs · 1/10 · 9 September 2021]

You actually don't find out what the secret is there was no horror In the movie apart from the actress's dancing .

The locals succeeded in hiding the secret.

[fewhite-310-202763 · 1/10 · 29 July 2021]

It's an hour of waiting for the story to progress, and 10 minutes of mild action and credits. The mystery is never plotted out, or revealed. You're just watching a young woman hang out at her dead grandparent's cabin, doing nothing of any interest.