Isle of the Snake People

Original title: La muerte viviente

1971
Unrated
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

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Boris Karloff and Tongolele in Isle of the Snake People (1971)

An evil scientist runs a veritable army of LSD-crazed zombies.An evil scientist runs a veritable army of LSD-crazed zombies.An evil scientist runs a veritable army of LSD-crazed zombies.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

3.4/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Top cast11

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Boris Karloff

Karl van Molder…

Julissa

Anabella Vandenberg

Carlos East

Lt. Andrew Wilhelm
(as Charles East)

Rafael Bertrand

Capt. Pierre Labiche
(as Ralph Bertrand)

Tongolele

Kalea

Quintín Bulnes

Klinsor
(as Quintin Bulnes)

Santanón

Dwarf
(as Santanon)

Martinique

Julia Marichal

Mary Ann Vandenberg
(as July Marichael)

Yol Duhalt

Quintin Miller

Gomez
(uncredited)

Directors
- Juan Ibáñez
- Jack Hill
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This film and the other three horror films that were all in the same package were originally supposed to be filmed entirely in Mexico City, Mexico in 1968. At that time, however, Boris Karloff was 81 years old and in extremely poor health, was suffering from both advanced emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis, only had one-half of one lung that was still functioning (both the other half of it and all of the other lung had already been removed due to lung cancer (Karloff had been a heavy smoker for most of his adult life)) and could only breathe through an oxygen mask that was connected to a mobile oxygen unit. In addition to all of this, his doctors had already told him not to travel to Mexico City because of the thin air at its high altitude. As a final result, all of Karloff's scenes for all four of these films were filmed on a soundstage in Hollywood in 1968 out of necessity.

Quotes
Anabella Vandenberg: Modern science has shown that alcohol is responsible for 99.2 % of all the world's sins.

Crazy credits
In this film's closing credits Boris Karloff is billed twice, the first time as Damballah and the second time as Karl van Molder.

Alternate versions
For the German DVD version of this film titled "Cult of the Dead", the second scene in it, the one featuring the zombie resurrection, is abridged.

Connections
Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Zombies (1996)

In ISLE OF THE SNAKE PEOPLE, Boris Karloff plays mysterious plantation owner, Carl Van Molder, who just might be hiding a secret identity. Voodoo cultists cause much mischief, gaining the attention of the new police chief, who vows to pull the plug on their antics once and for all. They don't take kindly to this idea, and terror unfolds.

Considering that Karloff was 80 years old and in ill health during this, he does an admirable job. The movie itself is a ridiculous shambles, but has a certain weird charm.

We're treated to a hoodoo hoedown, zombies, cannibal women feasting upon unwary cops, and the beautiful Tongolele (aka: Yolanda Montes) performing her snake dance. My goodness! Her undulations are enough to convert anyone to the voodoo arts! An exotic dancer in her heyday, and regardless of her age in this film, she casts a powerful spell!

Ahem, so, prepare for some schlock-tastic fun...