‘Voodoo rituals… on an island of evil!’
Isle of the Snake People is a 1971 horror film revolving around voodoo ceremonies that raise the dead.
Directed by Juan Ibáñez from a screenplay co-written with producer Luis Enrique Vergara. American filmmaker Jack Hill was also involved – see below for details.
The Azteca Films stars Boris Karloff, Julissa, Carlos East, Rafael Bertrand, Yolanda Montes [Tongolele], Quintín Bulnes and Santanón.
Background:
Isle of the Snake People is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Enrique Vergara, the others being The Incredible Invasion; Fear Chamber and House of Evil. With Karloff signed, Vergara obtained financing for the four films from Columbia Pictures, which would then distribute them. Karloff received $100,000 per film. Karloff initially rejected the scripts for all of the films but agreed to them after they were rewritten by Jack Hill.
Filming was planned to take place in Mexico, but Karloff’s emphysema prevented him from working at that altitude. Karloff’s scenes in all four films were directed by Jack Hill at the Dored Studios in Los Angeles in the spring of 1968. Between shots, Karloff rested in a wheelchair. The films were then completed in Mexico at Studios America Mexico.
Some additional scenes involving the van Molder character were filmed using a Karloff stand-in named Jerry Petty. Due to the unexpected death of producer Vergara, the release of the film was held up to determine ownership rights of inheritance under Mexican law.
The film was released as La muerte viviente [“The Living Dead”] in Mexico and in the US in 1971 as a Spanish-language movie. It was later dubbed into English but received little theatrical distribution, and was then released for television. It is also known as Cult of the Dead and Snake People.
Plot:
French Police Captain Labesch (Rafael Bertrand) arrives at the remote island of Kulabai, determined to crack down on the island’s lawlessness, spurred by the voodoo rites practised by an evil priest referred to as Damballah.
Labesch begins with local tycoon Carl van Molder (Boris Karloff) who warns him not to interfere with the local populace. Annabella (Julissa), van Molder’s visiting niece, is a temperance crusader who wants her uncle to help fund the International Anti-Saloon League. She falls in love with handsome police lieutenant Andrew Wilhelm (Carlos East), despite his fondness for rum.
Meanwhile, beautiful native girls are being transformed into zombies, and a sinister snake dancer named Kalea (Yolanda Montes) leads them to attack and devour any meddling policemen who get too close to their unholy rituals.
When Annabella is kidnapped and prepared to be the cult’s latest human sacrifice, Labesch and Wilhelm have to infiltrate their ranks to save her, and they finally learn the secret identity of the all-powerful Damballah…
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“Though sometimes strange to the point of psychedelic, this tame offering consists of interminable scenes of native rites, women trying to look seductively evil, and shots of snakes.” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia book
Choice dialogue:
Anabella Vandenberg [Julissa]: “Modern science has shown that alcoholism is responsible for 99.2% of all the world’s sins.”
Klinsor [Quintín Bulnes]: “Imagine. A beautiful woman who can’t talk. Every man’s dream [laughs].”
Cast and characters:
Boris Karloff – Carl van Molder/Damballah
Julissa – Anabella Vandenberg
Carlos/Charles East – Lt. Andrew Wilhelm
Rafael/Ralph Bertrand – Police Captain Pierre Labesch
Yolanda Montes [Tongolele] – Kalea
Quintín Bulnes – Klinsor
Santanón – Dwarf
Julia/July Marichal – Mary Ann Vandenberg
Quintin Miller – Gomez
Technical specs:
1 hour 30 minutes
Audio: Mono
TV spot:
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