I’m still making the effort to catch up with 2020 releases that I missed the first time around.  One of those is the Sony / Blumhouse offering Fantasy Island.  This is a horror-oriented remake of the old romantic TV series (1977-), with a PG-13 rating (there is a home video version with more violence and drug use).  I saw the PG-13 version.

Jeff Wadlow’s film has supernatural elements which explain the presence of Mr. Roarke (Michael Peña) and why events turn as sideways as they do.  A handful of guests arrive with very personal fantasies to fulfill (they are, evidently, the first of such people to visit the island, having won a contest), and although Mr. Roarke explains certain rules which need to be followed, the guests all find ways to cause trouble and some of them don’t survive the trip.

I didn’t think that I would enjoy this film — and, well, I didn’t.  However, I do appreciate the filmmakers attempt to do something different with the concept, to turn it into something a bit more sinister (especially since some of those old TV fantasies were so darn sappy).  Unfortunately the supernatural elements make no sense at all at different times in this movie; people aren’t really people, they’re monsters of some sort that bleed from their eyes; people die off and then return; etc.  I was not aware of any overarching consistency that would allow the story to be fully understood and appreciated.  Eventually I tired of trying to follow it.

The cast is lively, attractive and seems to have fun filming in Fiji, where the island is located.  I particularly liked gorgeous Maggie Q and cynical Lucy Hale.  The story’s conclusion wraps things up rather poorly, but it also sets up future visits with Mr. Roarke finally gaining his number two, Tattoo, in unusual fashion.  But as unimpressive as this movie is, it would surprise me if further adventures were made at all.  ☆ ☆.  14 January 2021.