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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Reality cannot be born without beginning with desire. Producer Jason Blum and director Jeff Wadlow team up once again (their second collaboration since 2018’s Truth or Dare) with a new thrilling film — Fantasy Island — which is Blumhouse Productions‘ second film to be distributed by Sony Pictures.
Very minor spoilers ahead!
Jeff Wadlow does some interesting work here, having directed thrilling films in the past such as Cry Wolf (2005), Kick-Ass 2 (2013), and Truth or Dare (2018); and having worked on some episodes of Bates Motel. This proves he’s had some experience in spearheading some heart-pumping projects.
Fantasy Island lives up to its title. The movie follows a group of young adults arriving on an island to face their deepest fantasies and learn that, there, “anything and everything is possible.” It begins with an odd introduction, then transitions into an intriguing second act. However, it’s third and final act returns to odd and unusual, and it makes the viewer wonder what the heck had happened from start to finish.
The cast includes Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hansen, and an appearance from Michael Rooker. While it’s difficult to balance out a story with multiple characters, everyone’s acting is acceptable. The Weaver brothers — played by Yang and Hansen — share rather weird performances in their scenes (although, perhaps it’s just the writing), while Stowell’s character’s scenes are more interesting.
The leading women, Maggie Q and Lucy Hale, however, steal the show as the film progresses. Q’s Gwen Olsen faces her fantasy of having a family, while Hale faces her desire of getting revenge on a middle/high school bully.
The movie’s cinematography is decent, but every so often, it seems evident that it needs to be worked on a little more. Its pacing is steady, to say the least. The story switches between its various characters, which isn’t saying much because the group consists of five individuals. The jump scares — when they happen — are predictable and aren’t all that frightening.
Peña has an intriguing performance here, although could use some improvements here and there. His Mr. Roarke is a rather serious character as opposed to roles he’s played in the past such as Luis from the Ant-Man films. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve seen him in a role this serious since 2015’s The Martian.
The film’s development of its characters is splendid. It begins with some confusion but gains some clarity as we delve deeper into the plot. Yang and Hansen’s Weaver brothers could use some tweaking in how they’re written, but that isn’t to say that they have a great dynamic. What’s an even better dynamic is that between Hale’s Melanie Cole and Doubleday’s Sloane Maddison.
The plot is flawless but seems to look bad due to every other peculiar aspect of the film. As the movie progresses, you begin to understand why this group of strangers was chosen to come to the island. In terms of its genre, it doesn’t feel too terrifying to be deemed a horror, but it does come off as a supernatural film.
Overall, we have a horror flick that understands its purpose but doesn’t quite know if it’s approaching it properly. On the surface, Fantasy Island looks too good to be true. It isn’t a complete failure, but we shouldn’t imply that it can pass as perfect either. Wadlow and Blum blend supernatural and fantasy together — with a splash of comedy — in such a way that we have a cohesive narrative. In the end, we gain a lesson on sacrifice and what one is willing to give up to get what they desire. In addition to that, we also learn about fantasy as a theme: “we [watch] horror movies and ride rollercoasters … to feel something” and that you won’t remember the minutiae of your memory but you’ll know exactly how you feel.
7.3/10
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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