Fantasy Island
I really like the idea of a horror riff on “Fantasy Island,” the TV show from the late ’70s and early ’80s. It’s a strong premise to be inverted into something darkly comic, and even scary. I don’t remember really ever watching the show, although I had certainly heard of it (I was a bit too young); I did see the Looney Tunes “movie” inspired by it, though. (I know; don’t judge me.) How does this film not work? Part of the problem is that it’s probably too convoluted for its own good.
The film begins with five people- Melanie (Lucy Hale), Elana (Maggie Q), Bradley (Ryan Hansen), Brax (Jimmy O. Yang) and Patrick (Austin Stowell)- being brought, on a sea plane, to the mysterious Fantasy Island. Run by Mr. Rourke (Michael Pena), whom has a collection of loyal servants in charge of the grounds, the guests filled out a single form survey which Rourke has used to identify their deepest fantasies. After a night’s sleep at the resort, their respective fantasies will begin. They start not quite believing that Rourke will be able to deliver. It’s not long before not only does Rourke prove he has an ability to conjure what these people truly want, but it is more than a little more complicated than what they think.
“Fantasy Island” is co-written and directed by Jeff Wadlow (“Truth or Dare,” “Kick Ass 2”). As with those previous efforts, though, he falls short of expectations, although the script by he, Jillian Jacobs and Christopher Roach has some decent meat on it compared to those two, especially “Truth or Dare.” There are some solid ideas here about people’s deepest fantasies not being what they thought, and how, when faced with them, they are surprised by how they would react. The film tries to delve into what that would mean with some depth, but it also feels like it wants to just go for formula thrills, as well. It does not help that the two actors who bring the most to their characters are Pena and Maggie Q, each of whom have deeply personal motivations that really get to the moral dilemma presented in this film. After that is Patrick, a former cop whose fantasy has to do with something he was never able to do, and the reason why is touching, but also thin in its emotional resonance. Melanie is the one that’s most front-and-center, but the way it plays out delves into the worst cliches of the genre, and leads to a lot of the narrative’s convolution by the finale. Bradly and Brax are the most annoying of all, partially by the way they are written, partially by how bonkers their fantasy plays out. If this film had been more stripped down to the way a good slasher or thriller works, I think this would have been more successful as a whole; unfortunately, “Fantasy Island” leaves us wanting something more than what we’re left with.
