This is a monster film that attempts to pass itself off as historical by using real dates from the war. It stars Dean Fujioka as Saito and Callum Woodhouse as Bronson, two opposing soldiers from the Second World War who find themselves on a Pacific island and encounter the Orang Ikan, a mythological Malaysian creature. Malaysian folklore refers to a body of knowledge, traditions and taboos that have been passed down through many generations in oral, written and symbolic form amongst the indigenous peoples of maritime Southeast Asia (Nusantara).
In 1942, during the Second World War, a Japanese ‘ship of hell’ was transporting prisoners of war, including a Japanese soldier accused of treason, Saito, and a British prisoner of war, Bronson, when it was attacked and sunk by an Allied submarine. During the attack, Saito and Bronson, chained together, escape and make their way ashore onto an island in the Pacific Ocean.
I’ll cut to the chase: as far as I’m concerned, this film is rubbish!
At the start, there’s a very long fight between the two men, which is also extremely brutal, making it completely unrealistic. It’s fair to say that if the whole film is like that, it’s not worth watching.
What a shame! There are plenty of intense scenes, but they’re interspersed with long stretches of boredom. As a result, the film isn’t very long, but it feels like an eternity. The monster isn’t very well done, but you can take comfort in the fact that it’s a tribute to Japanese tokusatsu TV series such as 宇宙刑事ギャバン/Uchū Keiji Gyaban (X-OR, in English).
It all depends on what you’re looking for in this sort of film! If you want a story that holds together, a well-made and scary creature, and no plot holes, you can give this a miss – or even run a mile. If, on the other hand, you’re passionate about Malay mythology, Japanese culture, or you just want a wild B-movie romp because you’re a fan of B-movies, then go for it!
Doyen is a real talent! He’s a Japanese actor, voice actor, singer, songwriter, musician, director and director/producer. As for Callum Woodhouse, he’s a British actor… and it’s funny to have a name that means ‘Wood House’.
The person playing the creature is called Alan Maxson. Remember that Jean-Claude Van Damme was supposed to play a similar role in the first Predator (1987), but was eventually replaced. Yes, Predator – you’ll be thinking a lot of that Predator whilst watching Orang Ikan, which doesn’t hold a candle to it.
Obviously, the title brings to mind an orangutan, but I can assure you that we’re not dealing with a big ape here, but rather a kind of reptile.
The film is directed by Mike Wiluan, who also made Buffalo Boys (2018), a western. I’m not sure I’ll give it a go, but it might actually be better than this film.
There you go! You know enough!!! The rest of my review is going to be full of spoilers! So if you haven’t seen this film and want to give it a go, don’t read what follows. As for the rest of you, let’s get started!
Warning: Spoiler Alert!
I’ve already told you that the fight at the start is unrealistic. But it just gets worse and worse!
When the bomb explodes, the creature reappears as if nothing had happened. If it really is invincible, then why is it bleeding? Why does it look like it’s suffering from its injuries, especially at the end when they really make you believe it’s dying?
When the crocodile attacks it, it pulls off a Tom Cruise-style escape à la Interview with the Vampire (1994) before finishing it off King Kong-style (1976) during the fight against the giant snake. There are some truly Tokusatsu-style scenes, particularly in that slow-motion sequence when the beast charges the survivor for the last time. And its penultimate finishing blow is delivered in the style of King Arthur (2004). Yes, you know, when the hero is on his knees but delivers a backward sword strike to his opponent. Get it?
In short! Not much in the way of originality. I don’t think it’s a remake, but you can’t even call it a tribute, as it’s a disgrace to its predecessors. Not everything is rubbish, but the film itself is, unfortunately. I’ll still remember the friendship that develops between the two men and that ending where the memories come flooding back…
I thought several times that it was finally over. But every extra scene spoils it more and more. You think the creature is dead (especially after the long-awaited and much-hoped-for coup de grâce), but no, it escapes to deliver one last little shiver in the final scene when it turns towards the camera! The Hero, wounded, falls and bleeds out on the sand after his distress flare fails to go off… but the smoke from the cave following the explosion still attracts a boat. And, as if by magic or a miracle, one person survives!
No, really, no!
A feature film that will join the ranks of all the bad films set on islands.
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