For many moviegoers,
Fantasy Island will be something completely new. However, Blumhouse's latest horror movie (which competed with
Sonic the Hedgehog on Valentine's Day in North America, but now battles
Onward in the UK) is actually a fresh take on a TV series which isn't necessarily remembered as a fondly as, say,
The Twilight Zone, but still resonates with many people. The fact it's not some sort of untouchable classic gave writer and director Jeff Wadlow a prime opportunity to reimagine the property and, for the most part, the filmmaker succeeds in delivering a film with genuine franchise potential.
Possible spinoffs and sequels aside, and there are still a lot of very interesting and exciting ideas at the heart of
Fantasy Island. The premise of the film is that those visiting this tropical paradise can live out any fantastical scenario they choose, whether it's something as simple as partying with beautiful women, as dark as getting revenge on a bully, or as emotionally complex as fixing a broken relationship. The movie is at its best exploring these fantasies, and only begins to make its biggest mistakes during the final act with the introduction of an unnecessary and convoluted twist which works to some extent (it tries hard to paint the entire film in a new light), but bogs things down in others. It's definitely not a moment you'll see coming, but it's also a shame that
Fantasy Island felt the need to explain the how and why of what happens when that mystery is part of the fun. This sudden shift in tone also comes a little late, and ends up feeling rushed and tacked on as if it was decided late on that it needed to be scarier.
Michael Peña plays the enigmatic and charming Mr. Roarke, and the actor steals the show with a compelling and complex portrayal of the mysterious man making these fantasies come true. Simply put, he's the highlight, but the
Ant-Man star is also surrounded by a solid supporting cast which includes strong performances from the likes of Lucy Hale, Portia Doubleday, and Maggie Q. It's actually the female cast members who shine, and this being another modern horror film that makes women more than two-dimensional victims is definitely welcomed. There's are also some downright abysmal work on display from the horribly unfunny "comedic" duo of Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O. Yang, and it's unforgivable how Michael Rooker is wasted; he's one of the most talented actors in Hollywood today, and could have done so much more here.
Wadlow deserves some credit, though, and both his love of the original series and desire to take full advantage of the premise by doing something new with it are easy to see. He doesn't quite manage to always stick "De Plane"'s landing, but if you're a fan of the show, something tells us you'll love how the filmmaker leaves things here.
The beautiful setting of Fantasy Island makes seeing some of the darker impulses of the people there somehow even more enjoyable as horror in heavenly surroundings proves to be hard to pull your eyes away from. When the film embraces the darkness within, there are some thrilling and scary moments guaranteed to make you jump, but a slightly more complex dive into the fantasies at the heart of this remake might have worked better than heading down that horror route. As a package, Fantasy Island is an enjoyable experience that doesn't necessarily leave you wishing you'd chosen a one-way ticket, but will certainly leave you open to a return. A fresh creative time - and more Michael Peña - might be the way to go, however.
This take on the classic TV series boasts some fun twists, but isn't quite bold enough to leave a lasting impact. Still, there's potential for future stories, and a ticket to Fantasy Island does offer one of the most twisted trips of 2020.