The Island is a 2023 American action thriller about an LAPD officer seeking answers and ultimately vengeance for the death of his brother.
Directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino (The Bloodletting; The Lackey; American Fighter; Roped; Lady Driver; Wheels of Fortune) from a screenplay written by Michael Caissie and Philippe Martinez. Produced by Alan Latham and Philippe Martinez.
The movie stars Michael Jai White (Dead Zone; The Commando; Take Back; Rogue Hostage; Black Friday; Assault on VA-33), Jackson Rathbone, Gillian White, Edoardo Costa, Wayne Gordon, Gabriel ‘G-Rod’ Rodriguez, Cami Storm, and Gabriel Rios.
Plot:
Years ago, unable to deal with the tragic death of their newborn baby, Mark (Michael Jai White) left the woman he loved and the island he grew up on. Now, seven years later, Mark has carved out a career in the LAPD, taking down drug traffickers with his wise-cracking partner, Phil.
Upon receiving news from his mother that a tragic death has once again occurred on the island, Mark returns home. Back on the island, Mark consoles his mother as they bury his younger brother. After the funeral, he sets his sights on finding who is responsible for the murder…
Reviews:
“White is a solid screen bruiser, offering a growl when speaking and keeping up with the limited physical demands of the part. He’s compelling in his own way, becoming the one true highlight of the movie […] The rest of The Island isn’t as diverting, with Piccinino struggling with amateur actors as island residents, and the writing takes a turn into record keeping as its main source of suspense.” 2 out of 5, Blu-ray.com
“Sadly, there isn’t enough here for The Island to stand out among a sea of direct-to-video releases. With just a bit more of a sense of place or a more textured visual language, The Island could have been a solid entry into the DTV canon. Instead, it has to settle for being one of Michael Jai White’s better works… a distinction that says remarkably little.” 2.5 out of 5, Disappointment Media
” …a refined script and a more controlled emotional depiction could have propelled The Island up another level. Yet, the movie’s genuine flavor and clear-cut direction are still enough to sustain viewer interest. If you want a solid action film to sit back and enjoy, this is it! To sum it up, Michael Jai White’s performance gives The Island its pulse, making it an enticing watch for action enthusiasts.” 3.5 out of 5, Overly Honest Movie Reviews
“The script has the tools to lead some amusing moments of culture shock moments our heroes, but the plot becomes standard issues where nothing is new or intriguing. White delivers the goods when it comes to beating down the bad guys. However, the plot armor his character has is somewhat distracting.” Grade: C-, Reviews and Dunn
“Despite his age, Michael Jai White still looks convincing kicking ass and can deliver when called on. He’s given decent support from his wife Gillian as his martial arts instructor ex, and from Rathbone, for the little time he’s on screen. The only one of the villains who gets any development is Manuel, and Costa does his best to make him loathsome […] It’s just too bad it’s all wasted on such a predictable production.” 2 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony
For YouTube reviews, the trailer, cast and characters, technical specs and more please click the page 2 link below
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Release date:
In the US, The Island was released theatrically in select locations and On-Demand (VOD) by Saban Films on July 21, 2023. Rent or buy via Amazon.com
More Michael Jai White movies:
DEAD ZONE (2022) Reviews of Tubi Original sci-fi action zombie horror
THE COMMANDO (2022) Reviews of action thriller
ROGUE HOSTAGE (2021) Reviews and overview for Die Hard-style action thriller
Cast and characters:
Michael Jai White … Mark
Jackson Rathbone … Phil
Gillian White … Akilah
Jay Hieron … Gang Member 2
Gabriel ‘G-Rod’ Rodriguez … Jose
Cami Storm … Nora
Bobby Hernandez … Sicario 1
Wayne Gordon … Wayland
Amber Townsend … Carla
Hans Marrero … Sicario 3
Gene Freeman … Gang member 1
Edoardo Costa … Manuel
Gabriel Rios … Carlos
Enrique Guzman … Sicario 2
Winston Crooke … Priest
Technical specs:
1 hour 30 minutes
