Monster Island (released as Isla Calaca in Mexico) is a 2017 English-language Mexican animated horror comedy film directed by Leopoldo Aguilar. The film was produced by Ánima Estudios and animated by India's Discreet Arts Production.[7]
The film was first released in the United Kingdom on 21 July 2017, and later in Mexico on 14 September 2017.[2][8] The film was released in the United States on 1 September 2017 on home media and VOD platforms.[9]
Plot
A teenage boy journeys to a monstrous-like island to find his true form after discovering he's not a human being.
In an interview with El Universal, director Leopoldo Aguilar said the purpose of the film's story is to help the audience understand their roots and learn to accept them.[11] "Lucas is a teenager who lives this path, [and] he makes a trip to accept himself as the monster he is," Aguilar stated.[11] "I think everyone at that age went through that process - to know what place we occupy in the world and try to discover ourselves," he added.[11] Producer and Ánima COO José C. García de Letona mentioned about the film's "comedy and action" tone, in comparison to the Leyendas franchise.[11] "It has elements to differentiate from the Leyendas, and this one, since it is a film designed for something global and[...] the public that we want to reach, there's not much suspense," stated Aguilar.[11]
The release in China marked a new first for production company Ánima Estudios, to which Leopoldo Aguilar stated that the film's story was created for a global setting, and not Mexico where the film was produced.[11] "Narratively[,] we wanted a funny story[...] that walks a lot without locating it in a place in Mexico[.] [I]t can be anywhere in the world[...] that already gives another face to the production," said Aguilar.[11]
Box office
The film debuted at #3 in Mexico, grossing $6.86 million (est. US$0.4 million) on its opening weekend.[13] It grossed a total of $18.9 million pesos.[4]
Reception
The film was met with negative reviews upon its release.[2][14][15] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a "Rotten" score of "18%" based on 11 reviews.[16] On Tomatazos, the film has a score of "10%".[17]
^ abcRichards, Olly (17 July 2017). "Monster Island Review". Empire (film magazine). Empire. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017. (last updated 19 July 2017)
^"Monster Island". Box Office Mojo. Amazon, Inc. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017. Totals calculated; not shown on website.
^Salinas, Mabel (15 September 2017). "Isla Calaca – Crítica". Cine Premiere. Cine Premiere. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017. In Spanish.
^"Monster Island". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
^"Película: Isla Calaca". Tomatazos (in Spanish). BuscaTodo.com S de RL de CV. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
