It was really weird to see Tom Selleck and the black guy from Magnum P.I. in a movie together considering I have never seen either one of them in anything else. Do they always work together or was this the only time? I'll probably never know. Anyway, I wasn't expecting much from this movie and I was pleasantly surprised.Strangely, they start the movie with a news team and make it look like they will be a big part of the story but their part is done before the opening credits roll. I assume it's an original plot, although it's very similar to how Australia became a country. The fight scenes we're a bit weak, you could easily see that nobody was really getting hit, but the story was good enough to make up for it. It was a little predictable too but most movies are. I thought it was weird that there was so much nudity and so little swearing, they usually go hand in hand.It was also a bit weird that the woman who was the main character for most of the movie isn't even in the final few minutes but maybe it was just an editing mistake. This is a good movie, watch it.
19 Reviews
violent exploitation B-movie
SnoopyStyle15 January 2017
The Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty. California created Terminal Island from San Bruno Island to exile the death row inmates. Bobby killed his bank robbery posse. Lee Phillips blew up a bank. A.J. is a cop killer. Bunny Campbell killed her parents with an ice pick. Julian Dylan is a biker. Joy poisoned her husband. Dr. Norman Milford (Tom Selleck) committed a mercy killing. Roy Teale is a serial killer. Carmen is the new inmate sent to Terminal Island. Bobby rules the main camp with an iron fist and Monk (Roger E. Mosley) is his second in command. The women are used as sex slaves.
I wanted to check this out after Selleck mentioned it on a late-night talk show. It's a violent low-budget exploitation T&A B-movie. There is a surprising number of hot babes serving death sentences. It's cheesy bad but it is almost watchable for its badness. The acting is generally weak and the overall filmmaking is poor. Selleck has a full beard. It doesn't keep my interest all the way to the end.
I wanted to check this out after Selleck mentioned it on a late-night talk show. It's a violent low-budget exploitation T&A B-movie. There is a surprising number of hot babes serving death sentences. It's cheesy bad but it is almost watchable for its badness. The acting is generally weak and the overall filmmaking is poor. Selleck has a full beard. It doesn't keep my interest all the way to the end.
This was somewhat of an acquired taste...
paul_haakonsen1 September 2021
Right, well "Terminal Island" is a movie that is two years older than I am. But of course something like that is not going to keep me from watching a movie. And as I had the opportunity to sit down and watch "Terminal Island" here in 2021, of course I did so.
The concept idea here, as written by James Barnett, Charles S. Swartz and Stephanie Rothman was certainly interesting. However, the transition to the screen made for a lukewarm movie experience. Yeah, the movie was watchable, sure, but this was hardly a hidden cinematic gem that I had been missing out on.
The movie does have signs of being 48 years old, sure, but there are still aspects of "Terminal Island" that are applicable today, and things that does leave you with something to ponder about.
However, from an entertainment viewpoint, then "Terminal Island" just fell short of providing me with a proper movie experience. I just had a difficult time submerging myself into the movie, despite it having a good concept.
The movie did have an okay cast ensemble, I will say that much, with the likes of Tom Selleck and Roger E. Mosley starring here.
My rating of director Stephanie Rothman's 1973 movie lands on a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.
The concept idea here, as written by James Barnett, Charles S. Swartz and Stephanie Rothman was certainly interesting. However, the transition to the screen made for a lukewarm movie experience. Yeah, the movie was watchable, sure, but this was hardly a hidden cinematic gem that I had been missing out on.
The movie does have signs of being 48 years old, sure, but there are still aspects of "Terminal Island" that are applicable today, and things that does leave you with something to ponder about.
However, from an entertainment viewpoint, then "Terminal Island" just fell short of providing me with a proper movie experience. I just had a difficult time submerging myself into the movie, despite it having a good concept.
The movie did have an okay cast ensemble, I will say that much, with the likes of Tom Selleck and Roger E. Mosley starring here.
My rating of director Stephanie Rothman's 1973 movie lands on a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.
Tropical island replaces death row? Sign me up!
EyeAskance22 August 2003
Minor drive-in classic concerns the replacement of capitol punishment with exile to a guarded island. Men and women alike must fend for themselves in this rugged terrain(which looks like paradise to me).
TERMINAL ISLAND takes full advantage of it's many opportunities to present titties and sexual situations. If, for some strange reason, that doesn't manage to hold your attention, there's equal portions of violent action for good measure...it's a more professionally appointed example of it's type, and should manage to please many folks outside the trash-cinemaphile radius.
A sleazy, cheesy champion of drive-in splendor. 6/10.
TERMINAL ISLAND takes full advantage of it's many opportunities to present titties and sexual situations. If, for some strange reason, that doesn't manage to hold your attention, there's equal portions of violent action for good measure...it's a more professionally appointed example of it's type, and should manage to please many folks outside the trash-cinemaphile radius.
A sleazy, cheesy champion of drive-in splendor. 6/10.
Cheaply made and it shows it.
shiner31015 January 2017
I can't believe all the reviews that are so positive about this terrible movie.
The only interesting aspect is that it stars a young Tom Selleck.
There's gratuitous nudity, unconvincing gore and 'action' sequences which are laughable.
The story is stale with a plot that has been reworked many times.
There's nothing new or worthwhile to recommend this movie.
There's no tension to be found in the story. It has a very unrealistic premise and ending.
There's also a real misogynistic theme in this movie as the women are nothing more than 'ass' for the men to share. And while the men are all scruffy and dirty, the women are perfectly coiffed with their breasts spilling out of their ill-fitting clothes.
I guess if you're a 12-year-old boy, you might get your jollies from this insipid movie but anyone with an IQ over 100 will be bored by this POS.
The only interesting aspect is that it stars a young Tom Selleck.
There's gratuitous nudity, unconvincing gore and 'action' sequences which are laughable.
The story is stale with a plot that has been reworked many times.
There's nothing new or worthwhile to recommend this movie.
There's no tension to be found in the story. It has a very unrealistic premise and ending.
There's also a real misogynistic theme in this movie as the women are nothing more than 'ass' for the men to share. And while the men are all scruffy and dirty, the women are perfectly coiffed with their breasts spilling out of their ill-fitting clothes.
I guess if you're a 12-year-old boy, you might get your jollies from this insipid movie but anyone with an IQ over 100 will be bored by this POS.
Welcome to Terminal Island, baby!
Hey_Sweden24 November 2015
The early 1970s B picture "Terminal Island" has an effective premise with which to work. In the "future", the Supreme Court has declared the death penalty unconstitutional. In its place, criminals are now dumped on an island 40 miles off the American coast. Here they're (mostly) left to fend for themselves. The latest arrival is a young woman, Carmen (Ena Hartman), who's just in time to witness an uprising. Some of the convicts are tired of the tyranny of their "leaders" Bobby (Sean Kenney, "The Corpse Grinders") and Monk (Roger E. Mosley, "The Mack"). So a small group splits off from the main group, and plots revolution.
Co-written by James Barnett, producer Charles S. Swartz, and director Stephanie Rothman ("The Velvet Vampire"), "Terminal Island" is pretty good for this kind of exploitation fare. It fulfils its requirements - violence, sex, nudity - adequately, and is simply beautifully shot (by Daniel Lacambre, "Humanoids from the Deep") on some pretty locations. While it naturally has its trashy moments, it never really wallows in unpleasantness, and it does have a sense of humour, to boot. (Watch how the horny character, Dylan (Clyde Ventura, "'Gator Bait") is dealt with.) The story is a little thin, but is also provocative on occasion. (Dr. Milford, played by a young Tom Selleck, was convicted of the mercy killing of a patient.)
The cast is full of then-stars, stars-to-be, and familiar character faces. Also appearing are Don Marshall ("The Thing with Two Heads"), Phyllis Davis ("Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"), Marta Kristen ('Lost in Space'), Barbara Leigh ("Junior Bonner"), Geoffrey Deuel ("Chisum"), James Whitworth (Papa Jupe in Wes Cravens' "The Hills Have Eyes"), Richard Stahl ("Nine to Five"), Sandy Ward ("Cujo"), and Albert Cole ("The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant"). The film gained newfound attention when Selleck and Mosley found later fame on 'Magnum P.I.'. Kenney and Mosley are particularly fun as the antagonists of the piece.
Full of solid squib action and some satisfying explosions, "Terminal Island" is worthy of discovery by devotees of the B pictures of decades past.
Seven out of 10.
Co-written by James Barnett, producer Charles S. Swartz, and director Stephanie Rothman ("The Velvet Vampire"), "Terminal Island" is pretty good for this kind of exploitation fare. It fulfils its requirements - violence, sex, nudity - adequately, and is simply beautifully shot (by Daniel Lacambre, "Humanoids from the Deep") on some pretty locations. While it naturally has its trashy moments, it never really wallows in unpleasantness, and it does have a sense of humour, to boot. (Watch how the horny character, Dylan (Clyde Ventura, "'Gator Bait") is dealt with.) The story is a little thin, but is also provocative on occasion. (Dr. Milford, played by a young Tom Selleck, was convicted of the mercy killing of a patient.)
The cast is full of then-stars, stars-to-be, and familiar character faces. Also appearing are Don Marshall ("The Thing with Two Heads"), Phyllis Davis ("Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"), Marta Kristen ('Lost in Space'), Barbara Leigh ("Junior Bonner"), Geoffrey Deuel ("Chisum"), James Whitworth (Papa Jupe in Wes Cravens' "The Hills Have Eyes"), Richard Stahl ("Nine to Five"), Sandy Ward ("Cujo"), and Albert Cole ("The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant"). The film gained newfound attention when Selleck and Mosley found later fame on 'Magnum P.I.'. Kenney and Mosley are particularly fun as the antagonists of the piece.
Full of solid squib action and some satisfying explosions, "Terminal Island" is worthy of discovery by devotees of the B pictures of decades past.
Seven out of 10.
First meeting of Magnum & T.C
Sergiodave14 September 2021
This style of Penal Colony movie was very popular in the 70's. The only high point is Tom Selleck and Roger Mosley starring in the same movie, 7 years later they would team up for almost a decade on Magnum P. I, one of the most popular detective shows in the early 80's.
Better than I expected for a 1970's action film
Ed-Shullivan15 January 2017
Okay so this film is not Lord of the Flies caliber and it will never be included in the Criterion Collection, but I will give credit to female director Stephanie Rothman for her fortitude for completing this action/drama/thriller that includes a few female characters that are not total bimbos. Director Rothman does follow the action themed "good guys versus bad guys" and yes the women in this film are exploited both physically and mentally but the difference is sometimes in Ms. Rothman's film the girls get the better of the hardened criminal men and I did find myself rooting for the women.
The film starts off rather slow as we are introduced to a broadcast news crew who want to do a news story on this new law discipline that sends like-minded convicted murderers on to an island to fend for themselves, and to fend off one another mainly to survive. Thus the film title Terminal Island would indicate that as a convicted criminal murderer your days are numbered once you land on Terminal Island.
Yes it has that typical '70's era dull cinematography feel, a pretty redundant music score but it also has one known star for the time in Don Marshall (known for TV's Land of the Giants) as well as some up and comer TV actors such as Phyllis Davis, Roger E. Mosley, and the well known now geriatric actor Tom Selleck, who back in 1973 was a TV commercial male model hunk looking for his first big break. No doubt, Terminal Island gave Tom Selleck the break that he needed to become a bona fide television star in first Magnum P.I. for 8 seasons along side Roger E Mosley who played TC. More recently Tom Selleck has been starring in the highly rated prime time TV police series Blue Bloods for the past 7 seasons. So Terminal Island was recognized by the astute TV producers that there is some good talent coming out of Terminal Island that was well worth pursuing.
I liked Terminal Island because it deliberately stayed clear of overdoing any sex and gore and tried to execute a film with a pretty good plot that was both creative and not easy to execute on a small budget for a B movie at best. So yes, it is worth watching and I will say that I did enjoy it. Maybe you will too?
I give it a 7 out of 10 rating
The film starts off rather slow as we are introduced to a broadcast news crew who want to do a news story on this new law discipline that sends like-minded convicted murderers on to an island to fend for themselves, and to fend off one another mainly to survive. Thus the film title Terminal Island would indicate that as a convicted criminal murderer your days are numbered once you land on Terminal Island.
Yes it has that typical '70's era dull cinematography feel, a pretty redundant music score but it also has one known star for the time in Don Marshall (known for TV's Land of the Giants) as well as some up and comer TV actors such as Phyllis Davis, Roger E. Mosley, and the well known now geriatric actor Tom Selleck, who back in 1973 was a TV commercial male model hunk looking for his first big break. No doubt, Terminal Island gave Tom Selleck the break that he needed to become a bona fide television star in first Magnum P.I. for 8 seasons along side Roger E Mosley who played TC. More recently Tom Selleck has been starring in the highly rated prime time TV police series Blue Bloods for the past 7 seasons. So Terminal Island was recognized by the astute TV producers that there is some good talent coming out of Terminal Island that was well worth pursuing.
I liked Terminal Island because it deliberately stayed clear of overdoing any sex and gore and tried to execute a film with a pretty good plot that was both creative and not easy to execute on a small budget for a B movie at best. So yes, it is worth watching and I will say that I did enjoy it. Maybe you will too?
I give it a 7 out of 10 rating
Terminal Boredom
blurnieghey20 October 2019
It didn't help that I wound up watching the censored version of this film as, honestly, nudity is about the only thing that could have brought any life to this lame mess. So if a woman gets pregnant on Terminal Island, the innocent child gets punished by default? And clearly the punishment factor for women on such a place would be much harsher than it would be for a man, but why bring up logical questions? Because, when you set up a premise ripe for exploitation that doesn't even come close to delivering the shlock it should, you start to nitpick at how dumb and unrealistic the whole concept is. The level of dehumanization, abuse, torture, and general nastiness that one would expect from such a set-up is barely addressed in this flop and, instead, you kind of get this let's-build-our-own-society / romance shtick that is boring as hell and doesn't work. I've seen worse, but this movie basically blows.
The one funny part was where they build the typical Rambo-style spring trap where the sharpened stakes are tied to a small tree and impale the guy who trips it, the major flaw being the tree used as the spring is about one inch in diameter and wouldn't even have enough force to drive a thumb tack, let alone a wooden spike. It's almost symbolic of the movie itself: lame and weak.
The one funny part was where they build the typical Rambo-style spring trap where the sharpened stakes are tied to a small tree and impale the guy who trips it, the major flaw being the tree used as the spring is about one inch in diameter and wouldn't even have enough force to drive a thumb tack, let alone a wooden spike. It's almost symbolic of the movie itself: lame and weak.
Curious casting
gregorycanfield30 January 2023
Curiously, most of the cast members come across as if they don't belong in this movie. Tom Selleck was obviously unknown at the time. He is completely ineffectual as a "doctor." The only point of interest is also having Roger E Mosely in the cast, as he and Selleck went on to star in Magnum PI. The biggest disappointment is the way beautiful Marta Kristen is wasted here. Her role is quite generic. Nothing that any other actress couldn't have done just as well. Also, Marta has genuine competition here, strictly in terms of "looks." There are not many women who could have ever given Marta Kristen a run for her money, but Phyllis Davis does just that. Not only are they both beautiful women, but they look like they could have been sisters. There is some nudity. Not enough, and none of it is by Marta! WHY NOT??!! Overall, the movie is watchable, but more violent than sexy. Should have been the other way around.
Starts Well, but...
derek-duerden4 April 2023
... doesn't really do anything interesting with the premiss, IMHO.
Escape From New York took a similar idea and did much more with it; there are also echoes of Lord of the Flies in what they *do* decide to do with the plot but, again, the latter did this better.
Also, despite it being cited as some sort of feminist allegory, the early nominal centre of the film (Carmen) gets rapidly sidelined once the women are freed from the main group, whereupon it's mainly two "guy gangs" - one nominally good, the other unambiguously bad - against each other, with lots of bad acting and cheap effects.
Not recommended.
Escape From New York took a similar idea and did much more with it; there are also echoes of Lord of the Flies in what they *do* decide to do with the plot but, again, the latter did this better.
Also, despite it being cited as some sort of feminist allegory, the early nominal centre of the film (Carmen) gets rapidly sidelined once the women are freed from the main group, whereupon it's mainly two "guy gangs" - one nominally good, the other unambiguously bad - against each other, with lots of bad acting and cheap effects.
Not recommended.
party movie!
jonathan-5772 January 2008
After the Supreme Court outlaws the death penalty, California circumvents the ruling by sending murderers to a secluded island, where they are declared 'legally dead' and expected to kill each other off. Four intrepid ladies spend some miserable time in the hierarchical sexist work camp on one side of the island, then run off to join the liberated comrades on the other side. There's some pretty big statements waiting to happen in there, and they come through loud 'n' brassy, but they are made in the firm confines of a rockin' 70s drive-in action movie. This is a co-ed prison flick on a cheaper set, with a great bunch of weirdo characters floating around and future Magnum P. I. cast members sweetening the pot. Smart and well made too.
Had a Pretty Good Premise to Build Upon
Uriah4330 January 2015
This movie takes place in the near future after a Supreme Court decision that has outlawed all capital punishment which leaves the state of California forced to subsidize the incarceration of murderous criminals for the rest of their lives. Rather than accept this enormous loss of revenue a solution is adopted which exiles all of them to an uninhabited island where they are forced to fend for themselves with no assistance from the outside except a boat which delivers a small amount of provisions every so often. It's during this time that a female prisoner named "Carmen" (Ena Hartman) is sentenced to spend the rest of her life on this island. When she gets there she discovers that the male population out-numbers the females by a ratio of over 10 to 1 and as a result the few women there are reduced to physical and sexual slavery. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk ruining it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this film had a pretty good premise to build upon and succeeds to a limited extent more or less. That said, while some of the scenarios weren't that realistic the actors performed adequately enough and the movie at least managed to keep my attention for the most part. Accordingly, I rate it as slightly above average.
Marta Kristen + Molotov Cocktails = good times!
goudsward20 March 1999
Remember Escape From New York? Eight years previously, in 1973, Terminal Island did the exact same idea. Not nearly as well, but hey - being first count for something, too! TI is an exploitation film when being an exploitation film was cool. As such, it has certain shortcoming inherent to the genre, such as street talking tough black guy, the psychotic white chauvinist pig, and the heroic woman, overcoming oppression with sagacity and perserverence. I can live with those stereotypes, but I can't bear the background music leftover from a 1970's porn movie!
Marta Kristen finally gets to play the part of an action hero - quite a leap from the laid back Judy Robinson role she is best known for. She fights and blows things up and knows how to create gunpowder from nature. Very cool.
Marta Kristen finally gets to play the part of an action hero - quite a leap from the laid back Judy Robinson role she is best known for. She fights and blows things up and knows how to create gunpowder from nature. Very cool.
An excellent, unusual and exciting 70's drive-in exploitation variant on your standard prison picture
Woodyanders11 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Token distaff feminist 70's drive-in movie writer/director Stephanie ("Group Marriage," "The Student Nurses") Rothman's intriguing and intelligent social allegory on how the strong cruelly oppress and viciously lord it over the weak, here cunningly done under the guise of being your standard down'n'dirty grindhouse exploitation prison item. Two rival factions, one peaceful and egalitarian, the other brutish and dictatorial, battle it out for supremacy on a remote island penitentiary where society's most heinous and irredeemable criminals are permanently banished to rot out the rest of their lives (the basic premise definitely shares striking similarities to "Escape from New York"). The first-rate cast of familiar TV show and B-flick faces greatly enlivens this fun'n'funky favorite: "Lost in Space" cutie Marta Kristen in fine, feisty form (she also looks mighty tasty in a skimpy halter top and cut-off denim hot pants), statuesque eyeful Phyllis ("Sweet Sugar," "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls") Davis, Roger E. ("The Mack," "Hit Man") Mosley, Clyde ("'Gatorbait," "Bury Me An Angel") Ventura, the beauteous Barbara ("Seven," "Junior Bonner") Leigh, Albert ("The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant," "The Female Bunch") Cole, the ever-scummy James ("Planet of Dinosaurs," "The Candy Snatchers") Whitworth, and even a pre-"Magnum P.I." Tom Selleck as a nice guy doctor. Moreover, this film not only delivers the expected sex, nudity and violence (Davis' smoking hot skinny-dipping scene in particular is a luscious wonder to behold), but also plenty of meaty and provocative food for thought to chew on and digest as well. Hard to find, but definitely worth checking out if you're lucky enough to stumble across a rare copy of it.
Movie was fine; video (DVD) version from Canada cut/censored.
mchlanda-110 August 2004
This movie was fine, great, if you're a Tom Selleck fan. Personally, I like Phyllis Davis (who starred later in "Vegas" with the late Robert Urich). The "DVD" version; which is available from Canada, produced by Legacy Entertainment, is a "ripoff" (if you'll pardon an old slang word). It is cut for language, and other material, featuring Ms. Davis, and another actress (separate scenes, not together), involving nudity. I know, because a) I have a book called "The Bare Facts" by Craig Hosada, which reviews these scenes. b.) I have a tape called Famous T & A, I'm not making it up, which features an uncut/uncensored excerpt from the movie which shows what was cut. I am getting a VHS, used, from another place, from a different manufacturer, and hoping it hasn't been "cut". Although rated "R" originally, and even though it says it's been edited (which I didn't look to see, until after I viewed the movie; which if I had done, I'd have returned it) I feel I was cheated. So, this is a warning to any potential buyers. If editing doesn't bother you, then, by all means, buy it. In fact, I'm trying to resell my copy, as it was played once.
Phyllis Davis was Fantastic
garyldibert23 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
TITLE: TERMINAL ISLAND opened in theaters on 6/1/1973 Runtime: 88 Minutes
STARRING: Phyllis Davis as Joy, Barbara Leigh as Bunny, Ena Hartman as Carmen, Marta Kristen as Lee, Don Marshall as AJ, Tom Selleck as Dr. Milford and Sean Kenney as Bobby.
SUMMARY: The movie opens with a TV station going back three ago when Supreme Court decision to outlaw the death penalty, California passes an initiative that designates San Bruno Island as a dumping spot for first-degree murder convicts, free to do what they like except leave. Carmen is sentences to Terminal Island for murder. When she gets there, Dr Milford greets her. Carmen Spends the night on the beach near a warm fire. The next morning Carmen starts to head inland when she comes across the camp. When Carmen reaches, camp Bobby tells Monk to break her in. After Carmen is broken in the hard way she is assign a cabin. The next day Carmen and another woman inmate are seen pulling a plow. Joy goes to get a drink and it turns into a fight between two male inmates. The tyrannical Bobby, who rules with an iron hand and the women are used as sex slaves, controls the main camp of convicts. The girls are force to help build a wall. That evening Joy is trying to clean up Carmen hands when Monk comes into their cabin and tells them all that there working the night shift. The next day the men are standing line getting ready to be served by the women food. Bunny who's Bobby personal slave gets Bobby and Monk food. One of the other male inmates gets into a confrontation with another and a brawl inc-uses until one of them is killed with a knife, which means there is one less mouth to feed. His body is thrown of the cliff and into the ocean. The next day the women prisoners are washing clothes when three escape convicts kill three guys and take the four women prisoners into hiding.
QUESTIONS: Who were the four inmates that took the girls? Why did they take the girls? Why are the four men separated from the group?
MY THOUGHTS: I love this movie. This movie had three ingredients that make a great movie. Action, drama, and beautiful woman. I think Don Marshall was good in his role as AJ. I also thought that Monk and Dr Milford where good in their roles also. Barbara Leigh was good in her role as Bunny, So was Ena Hartman in her role as Carmen and Marta Kristen in her role as Lee. However, this movie in my mind was all about Phyllis Davis. She was fantastic in her role as Joy. One of my favorite scenes is when Dylan tries to come onto Joy and she makes him take his pants off. Then she covers his privates with honey and then walks over to a stump full of bees and cracks with a stick and the bees chase Dylan into the water. With the three things, that makes a movie great in this picture. Also for the talent and beautiful body of Phyllis Davis, I give this movie 10 weasel star.
STARRING: Phyllis Davis as Joy, Barbara Leigh as Bunny, Ena Hartman as Carmen, Marta Kristen as Lee, Don Marshall as AJ, Tom Selleck as Dr. Milford and Sean Kenney as Bobby.
SUMMARY: The movie opens with a TV station going back three ago when Supreme Court decision to outlaw the death penalty, California passes an initiative that designates San Bruno Island as a dumping spot for first-degree murder convicts, free to do what they like except leave. Carmen is sentences to Terminal Island for murder. When she gets there, Dr Milford greets her. Carmen Spends the night on the beach near a warm fire. The next morning Carmen starts to head inland when she comes across the camp. When Carmen reaches, camp Bobby tells Monk to break her in. After Carmen is broken in the hard way she is assign a cabin. The next day Carmen and another woman inmate are seen pulling a plow. Joy goes to get a drink and it turns into a fight between two male inmates. The tyrannical Bobby, who rules with an iron hand and the women are used as sex slaves, controls the main camp of convicts. The girls are force to help build a wall. That evening Joy is trying to clean up Carmen hands when Monk comes into their cabin and tells them all that there working the night shift. The next day the men are standing line getting ready to be served by the women food. Bunny who's Bobby personal slave gets Bobby and Monk food. One of the other male inmates gets into a confrontation with another and a brawl inc-uses until one of them is killed with a knife, which means there is one less mouth to feed. His body is thrown of the cliff and into the ocean. The next day the women prisoners are washing clothes when three escape convicts kill three guys and take the four women prisoners into hiding.
QUESTIONS: Who were the four inmates that took the girls? Why did they take the girls? Why are the four men separated from the group?
MY THOUGHTS: I love this movie. This movie had three ingredients that make a great movie. Action, drama, and beautiful woman. I think Don Marshall was good in his role as AJ. I also thought that Monk and Dr Milford where good in their roles also. Barbara Leigh was good in her role as Bunny, So was Ena Hartman in her role as Carmen and Marta Kristen in her role as Lee. However, this movie in my mind was all about Phyllis Davis. She was fantastic in her role as Joy. One of my favorite scenes is when Dylan tries to come onto Joy and she makes him take his pants off. Then she covers his privates with honey and then walks over to a stump full of bees and cracks with a stick and the bees chase Dylan into the water. With the three things, that makes a movie great in this picture. Also for the talent and beautiful body of Phyllis Davis, I give this movie 10 weasel star.
Magnum(P.I) opus
rlcsljo14 March 2001
Selleck (playing a doctor before his stint on "Friends") and Mosley appear in this one seven years before the Magnum, P.I. TV series. (It is amazing how a person can play one character and be so right for so many different roles).
California has abolished the death penalty (before it was reinstated) and the golden state empties death row onto "Terminal Island". Here, the inmates run the show and the only "guard" is a Navy frigate that prevents escape. Basically, this is a standard prison movie without the bars, but since there are no rules, the inmates can do whatever they want from what they can improvise on the Island.
A social order has arisen where a dorky murderer along with his black enforcer(Mosley) force everyone to work while he has his way with the women (other males get their turn, as well).
A "revolutionary" band of renegades (lead by Don Marshall(II) from "Star Trek" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century") roam the island and basically steal what they can from the "establishment". They treat their people only slightly better.
A war erupts when some guards delivering a new prisoner are overwhelmed and their machine guns are stolen. All manner of improvised weapons are also used as well.
This movie is a very good allegory for the VietNam war and how determined ingenious under dogs can defeat a militarily superior power.
Also, as expected in seventies exploitation flicks, a lot of chicks go topless and nude--unfortunately not Selleck or Mosley.
California has abolished the death penalty (before it was reinstated) and the golden state empties death row onto "Terminal Island". Here, the inmates run the show and the only "guard" is a Navy frigate that prevents escape. Basically, this is a standard prison movie without the bars, but since there are no rules, the inmates can do whatever they want from what they can improvise on the Island.
A social order has arisen where a dorky murderer along with his black enforcer(Mosley) force everyone to work while he has his way with the women (other males get their turn, as well).
A "revolutionary" band of renegades (lead by Don Marshall(II) from "Star Trek" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century") roam the island and basically steal what they can from the "establishment". They treat their people only slightly better.
A war erupts when some guards delivering a new prisoner are overwhelmed and their machine guns are stolen. All manner of improvised weapons are also used as well.
This movie is a very good allegory for the VietNam war and how determined ingenious under dogs can defeat a militarily superior power.
Also, as expected in seventies exploitation flicks, a lot of chicks go topless and nude--unfortunately not Selleck or Mosley.
Island of the Outcast.
morrison-dylan-fan3 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
January 2014:
Since watching the fascinating 1975 film Gemini Affair,I decided to take a look at lead star Marta Kristen's IMDb page,which listed a trio of movies that she made.After being unable to track down Kristen's surrealist title Once,I took a look at the page for the other flick in the trio,and I was happy to discover that it was a Women In Prison (WIP) film,co-starring Kristen.Taking a look around online,I was disappointed to find that the only version out in the UK was a heavily cut edition.
September 2014:
Shortly after tracking down an uncut version of the Adult Jaws spoof Gums,I decided to take a look at what other movies the DVD selling had for sale,and I was delighted to spot an uncut edition of Terminal Island,which led to me finally setting foot on the island.
The plot:
After the US Supreme Court declares that the death penalty is unlawful,California decides that it will counter this law by making the island of San Bruno a dumping ground for first degree murderers,who will be kept on the island for the rest of their lives,and will have to fight to the death for their survival.Found guilty of murder,Joy is sent to join the other residences of the island.
Ignoring advice to stay on the shore of the island,Joy heads to the heart of the island,where she is captured,and soon becomes a prison.Originally expecting to find the island to be a battle royal,Joy is instead surprised to find,that with the exception of a few outcasts,that the island is run by 2 men called Bobby & Monk,who push all of the more conscious-heavy guys around,and keep the women as workers and sex slaves. As she gets pushed around and "eased" in by Bobby & Monk,Joy begins talking to her fellow prisoners about staging a rebellion on the island.
View on the film:
Showing the boys how things are done,co-writer/ (along with James Barnett and Charles S. Swartz) director Stephanie Rothman ("Gasp"-a women making a "genre" movie!) gives the movie an extremely gritty appearance,with Rothman and cinematographer Daniel Lacambre using the island location to give the title a lush, rugged atmosphere. Displaying a sense of equal opportunity,Rothman hits the action scenes with a brutal force,thanks to Rotherman putting the guys & the girls knee- deep in bare knuckle fights,and deadly shootings which scatter across the screen.Keeping away from making the action scenes unconnected to the rest of the movie,Rothman shows a subtle progression in the fighting style of the islanders,as Joy and her gang of rebels develop a bond in taking on Monk & Bobby.
Taking place almost entirely in the jungle,the writers include a sly allegorical element to the Vietnam war in the screenplay,with the rebels weapons all involving elements of the jungle,whilst Monk and Bobby go up against them with brand new machine guns.Making sure that the allegorical never engulfs the title,the writers smartly decide to keep the message sly,which allows for the flick to end on a positive,cheerful note about creating bonds in a new society.Despite the film having a positive message,the writers make sure that the road to the message is not an easy,with everyone from the leaders to the slaves being beaten to a pulp,with the writers showing a tremendous glee in wiping out major characters with a burst of gunfire.
Stepping on the island with a goal to hit anyone that gets in her way, Phyllis Davis gives a terrific,brash performance as Joy,with Davis showing Joy's edges to soften,as she gets into the swing of team work,whilst a pretty Marta Kristen gives a fun,care-free performance as Lee Phillips,and the gorgeous Barbara Leigh (who also appears naked) displays a fragile vulnerability as Bunny.Joining the girls, Roger E. Mosley gives a stern performance as Monk,whilst Sean Kenney cast a snarl across the screen as boo- hiss baddie Bobby,as all of them try to survive on the terminal island.
Since watching the fascinating 1975 film Gemini Affair,I decided to take a look at lead star Marta Kristen's IMDb page,which listed a trio of movies that she made.After being unable to track down Kristen's surrealist title Once,I took a look at the page for the other flick in the trio,and I was happy to discover that it was a Women In Prison (WIP) film,co-starring Kristen.Taking a look around online,I was disappointed to find that the only version out in the UK was a heavily cut edition.
September 2014:
Shortly after tracking down an uncut version of the Adult Jaws spoof Gums,I decided to take a look at what other movies the DVD selling had for sale,and I was delighted to spot an uncut edition of Terminal Island,which led to me finally setting foot on the island.
The plot:
After the US Supreme Court declares that the death penalty is unlawful,California decides that it will counter this law by making the island of San Bruno a dumping ground for first degree murderers,who will be kept on the island for the rest of their lives,and will have to fight to the death for their survival.Found guilty of murder,Joy is sent to join the other residences of the island.
Ignoring advice to stay on the shore of the island,Joy heads to the heart of the island,where she is captured,and soon becomes a prison.Originally expecting to find the island to be a battle royal,Joy is instead surprised to find,that with the exception of a few outcasts,that the island is run by 2 men called Bobby & Monk,who push all of the more conscious-heavy guys around,and keep the women as workers and sex slaves. As she gets pushed around and "eased" in by Bobby & Monk,Joy begins talking to her fellow prisoners about staging a rebellion on the island.
View on the film:
Showing the boys how things are done,co-writer/ (along with James Barnett and Charles S. Swartz) director Stephanie Rothman ("Gasp"-a women making a "genre" movie!) gives the movie an extremely gritty appearance,with Rothman and cinematographer Daniel Lacambre using the island location to give the title a lush, rugged atmosphere. Displaying a sense of equal opportunity,Rothman hits the action scenes with a brutal force,thanks to Rotherman putting the guys & the girls knee- deep in bare knuckle fights,and deadly shootings which scatter across the screen.Keeping away from making the action scenes unconnected to the rest of the movie,Rothman shows a subtle progression in the fighting style of the islanders,as Joy and her gang of rebels develop a bond in taking on Monk & Bobby.
Taking place almost entirely in the jungle,the writers include a sly allegorical element to the Vietnam war in the screenplay,with the rebels weapons all involving elements of the jungle,whilst Monk and Bobby go up against them with brand new machine guns.Making sure that the allegorical never engulfs the title,the writers smartly decide to keep the message sly,which allows for the flick to end on a positive,cheerful note about creating bonds in a new society.Despite the film having a positive message,the writers make sure that the road to the message is not an easy,with everyone from the leaders to the slaves being beaten to a pulp,with the writers showing a tremendous glee in wiping out major characters with a burst of gunfire.
Stepping on the island with a goal to hit anyone that gets in her way, Phyllis Davis gives a terrific,brash performance as Joy,with Davis showing Joy's edges to soften,as she gets into the swing of team work,whilst a pretty Marta Kristen gives a fun,care-free performance as Lee Phillips,and the gorgeous Barbara Leigh (who also appears naked) displays a fragile vulnerability as Bunny.Joining the girls, Roger E. Mosley gives a stern performance as Monk,whilst Sean Kenney cast a snarl across the screen as boo- hiss baddie Bobby,as all of them try to survive on the terminal island.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
