The nice thing about movies like this is that it's easy to just turn off one's brain and enjoy the romp, however much we can. It's unquestionably better that way, more or less a requirement, because it's also very easy to criticize the feature from top to bottom and lose the forest for the trees. This way, one can safely ignore the fact of 'Screamers' being a re-edited version of another re-edited version of Italian horror flick 'Island of the fishmen'; which rendition one is actually watching is of no real consequence. One could point out all the issues one likes - the film doesn't care. It's only here to have a fun-scary time (definitely not scary-scary). Mileage will vary from one viewer to the next, but if nothing else, I've seen worse.
I'll say this much for it: the visuals are pretty great. The filming locations are gorgeous, and the production design and art direction aren't truly any less so. The blood and gore effects are splendid; the hair and makeup work, and costume design (even including the fishmen, in my opinion) are quite fetching. The stunts look good. I also appreciate the original score of Luciano Michelini, and the additional themes of Sandy Berman; the music is commendably invigorating, even if sometimes melodramatic. The cast generally are fine; most notable are Barbara Bach, the token female character in this flick - and above all Richard Johnson, who turns in a performance more solid and earnest than the picture required.
With all that said, if one were to meaningfully assess it as a work of cinema, then 'Screamers,' also known as 'Island of the fishmen,' also known as I don't care, is plagued with troubles. The pacing is laborious; even at only 90 minutes or so, plot development is lagging, and it's difficult to extract entertainment therefrom. The English dubbing is less than perfect. And the writing is altogether just kind of bland: from characters, to dialogue, to the story at large, I don't believe there's one element that we haven't seen before; there's clear inspiration from very recognizable past titles. Whether one wishes to pin the responsibility on the screenwriters or on director Sergio Martino, some individual scenes are just rather unconvincing; some feel outright forced. I also struggle to take the movie seriously with each utterance of the name of Johnson's character Rackham, as I'm reminded of the defanged expletive "rackum frackum."
There are, genuinely, some good ideas here. I just don't know how much they matter in the grand scheme of things, not least as the sense of adventure and horror is prioritized. Make no mistake, that priority is very deliberate and keeping in line with most any real point of reference. To be fair, too, anyone who stumbles upon any given version of this surely knows full well what they're getting into. Nonetheless, the result is invariably the same. 'Screamers' is a suitable good time, and it's reasonably well made as it is provided you don't think too hard about it. There are many much better ways to spend your time, but certainly far worse, too. Don't ever go out of your way to watch this, but if you happen to come across it, it's a passable way to spend an hour and a half.
I'll say this much for it: the visuals are pretty great. The filming locations are gorgeous, and the production design and art direction aren't truly any less so. The blood and gore effects are splendid; the hair and makeup work, and costume design (even including the fishmen, in my opinion) are quite fetching. The stunts look good. I also appreciate the original score of Luciano Michelini, and the additional themes of Sandy Berman; the music is commendably invigorating, even if sometimes melodramatic. The cast generally are fine; most notable are Barbara Bach, the token female character in this flick - and above all Richard Johnson, who turns in a performance more solid and earnest than the picture required.
With all that said, if one were to meaningfully assess it as a work of cinema, then 'Screamers,' also known as 'Island of the fishmen,' also known as I don't care, is plagued with troubles. The pacing is laborious; even at only 90 minutes or so, plot development is lagging, and it's difficult to extract entertainment therefrom. The English dubbing is less than perfect. And the writing is altogether just kind of bland: from characters, to dialogue, to the story at large, I don't believe there's one element that we haven't seen before; there's clear inspiration from very recognizable past titles. Whether one wishes to pin the responsibility on the screenwriters or on director Sergio Martino, some individual scenes are just rather unconvincing; some feel outright forced. I also struggle to take the movie seriously with each utterance of the name of Johnson's character Rackham, as I'm reminded of the defanged expletive "rackum frackum."
There are, genuinely, some good ideas here. I just don't know how much they matter in the grand scheme of things, not least as the sense of adventure and horror is prioritized. Make no mistake, that priority is very deliberate and keeping in line with most any real point of reference. To be fair, too, anyone who stumbles upon any given version of this surely knows full well what they're getting into. Nonetheless, the result is invariably the same. 'Screamers' is a suitable good time, and it's reasonably well made as it is provided you don't think too hard about it. There are many much better ways to spend your time, but certainly far worse, too. Don't ever go out of your way to watch this, but if you happen to come across it, it's a passable way to spend an hour and a half.