Ilha do Medo

I think this movie is different apart from most films I've seen. It was exciting in a way, and no matter what others say, I say, I was surprised about the final solution. Certainly didn't see it coming!! Although it's sad, it's worth watching.. I can't think of any movie that would be like this! Actors knew what they were doing. If you say this movie sucks, you say probably what most people would say. But, if someone says that this movie is ordinary, I absolutely don't agree. And Norman Reedus should be more noticed.

Maybe I'm freak but I liked this very much. It was kind of mess, but who cares? I'm tired of boring and ordinary movies.

Before Norman Reedus became a fan-favorite on the popular television series, 'The Walking Dead,' he was a small-time actor gathering a bit of attention through a conjunction of both mainstream and independent films - such notable titles being a small role in the tense thriller, '8MM' with Nicolas Cage, the John Hughes-penned drama, 'Reach the Rock,' and of course an early role opposite Mira Sorvino in the sci- fi thriller, 'Mimic.' But in 1998, he starred opposite Alan Rickman and Polly Walker in the rather strange, tautly-wound, independent, suspense film, 'Dark Harbor,' an eerily eccentric tale of forbidden love with only a select few characters inhibiting the screen throughout its duration.

The movie follows three characters woven into a sort of psychological array of hidden motives and blind attraction. Norman Reedus stars as a drifter who is picked up by a bickering married couple (Rickman and Walker) and finds himself getting stuck with the two on a rather isolated property in the south-eastern part of Maine. Along the way, tension grows and the shaky marriage begins to be questioned further due to the interference of the drifter.

The film features a haunting musical score by relatively unknown composer, David Mansfield, atmospheric locations, and a psychological foray into one of the darkest areas of the human mind. The film may not be one to revisit too often due to its dark nature, but it's certainly worth experiencing. I, for one, really respond to the movie's overall feel, or atmospheric tone, and relish in the director's intent to focus his story against a backdrop of moody and isolated locations for the purpose of extracting of his stars from the rest of the world. The DVD, released by Artisan Series in the U.S. and now out of print, features a commentary track by director Adam Coleman Howard which is essential listening if one enjoys this type of movie. It dives deep into the oddities on screen and assists in understanding the film's coveted structure. Check this one out, especially if you like suspenseful dramas with unconventional themes. The disc can be had for a reasonable price on the secondary market as of this writing and is worth adding to your collection - especially for you Reedus fans clamoring to see him outside his zombie-hunting escapades.

If the ending hadn't been so fantastically unexpected, I don't think I could rate this movie so well.

This movie has a lot of uncomfortable, distressing, "marriage falling apart" character interaction. That sort of thing is not my kind of drama, so the pace seemed to drag for me.

In addition, the main characters are difficult to relate to and thus care much about -- the husband (Alan Rickman) is rather bitter and cranky and the wife (Polly Walker) is aloof and a little haughty. The acting was just fine (Norman Reedus was very alluring), but the characters themselves were perhaps a little TOO realistically flawed (for me).

The setting was nice and appropriately isolated and a little spooky. The cinematography had something to it that seemed a little old-fashioned to me somehow.

But the last 5-15 minutes of this movie are so ingenious that every uncomfortable scene, awkward conversation, and inexplicable character behavior absolutely worth it. I guessed every typical plot twist except the one that occurred.

The ending definitely makes this movie worth watching. The intrigue and the drama, not quite as much.

As lead-off offering for the Maine Film Festival, it was well chosen. Although it is a re-make of "Death Trap" with Michael Caine and Chris Reeves, that was never mentioned (strange). There are so many twists, I had to see it twice to understand it. Sound mixers should refund their pay, since the opening scene cannot be understood because of the loudness of the rain; same is true for other places in the film. Although it was cut a little too choppily to suit me, I would see it again and found the movie quite intriguing and suspenseful. Too bad we won't be seeing it in the theatres. Alice Brown

Having read some of the previous reviews, I was highly disappointed to see that not everyone enjoyed this film... Right now, let me tell you, if you are not an Alan Rickman fan, you may want to consider skipping this movie.

Being a hard-core Alan Rickman fan, I bought this movie before seeing it. When I watched it, I fell head-over-heels in love. The premise was simple: On their way for a weekend at their private island, a married couple helps an injured man on the side of the road. Dropping him off in the nearest town, they resolve to think nothing more of him. Thus, when he turns up on their private island, they are somewhat surprised. Polly Walker is the only real dud in the film... I'm sorry to say that she's British, to boot. Alan shines in this as he does in everything, and there's just something so loveable about Norman Reedus.

The ending *WILL* come as a shock. Unless you're incredibly perceptive (which, I consider myself to be, and I was shocked), you will not know what's coming at the end. Yes, the plot moves a bit slow. But the pace is necessary to establish the proper relational distance between Alexis and David Weinberg.

I loved it, I think you will too, so just give it a try!