Monster Island (2017 film) explained

Monster Island
Director:Leopoldo Aguilar
Producer:Fernando de Fuentes
José C. García de Letona
Starring:Phillip Vasquez
Roger L. Jackson
Johnny Rose
Fiona Hardingham
Katie Leigh
Eric Larsen
Michael Robles
Nancy Sullivan
Jenifer Beth Kaplan
Music:Kevin Smithers[1]
Editing:Luciana Jauffred Gorostiza
Rhen Fontaine
Studio:Ánima Estudios
Discreet Arts Productions
Distributor:Corazón Films
Runtime:80 minutes[2]
Country:Mexico
Spain
India
United States
Bulgaria
Language:English
Spanish
Budget:$1.04 million[3]
Gross:MX$18.9 million
(US$2.1 million)[4] [5] [6]

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.

Voice cast

Spanish-language cast

English-language cast

Production

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]

Animation

The film was animated entirely in computer-generated imagery,[12] done by India's Discreet Arts Productions which has previously collaborated with Anima Estudios' previous films including Guardians of Oz and Top Cat Begins.

Music

The film's original music was composed by Kevin Smithers.[1]

Release

To date, the film has been released in Mexico, United States, and the United Kingdom, as well as Asian territories including China and South Korea.[10]

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]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Composer Kevin Smithers visits MONSTER ISLAND. 26 November 2017. Musique Fantastique. Musique Fantastique. 19 November 2017. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034554/https://musiquefantastique.com/further-examinations/composer-kevin-smithers-visits-monster-island/. live.
  2. News: Richards. Olly. Monster Island Review. 26 November 2017. Empire (film magazine). Empire. 17 July 2017. 29 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171129010522/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/monster-island/review/. live. (last updated 19 July 2017)
  3. Web site: Eficine-Proyectos aprobados (resultados 2014) . SEGOB . DOF . Spanish . 11 August 2023 . 12 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230612032603/https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5383762&fecha=27/02/2015 . live . Note: Combined MXN budget - $18,150,000
  4. Web site: Películas Animadas 2000 – 2018 . Canacine . Canacine . 15 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032024/http://canacine.org.mx/peliculas-animadas-2000-2018/ . live .
  5. Web site: Resultados definitivos 2017. Canacine. Canacine. 20 February 2018. 21 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100720/http://canacine.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Resultados-definitivos-2017-1.pdf. live.
  6. Web site: Monster Island. Box Office Mojo. Amazon, Inc.. 20 December 2017. 22 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051607/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&country=00&wk=2017W37&id=_fMONSTERISLAND01. live. Totals calculated; not shown on website.
  7. News: Rosales. Johel. Isla Calaca: nueva película de Ánima Estudios. 26 November 2017. ANMTV. anmtv.la. 4 July 2017. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033511/http://www.anmtvla.com/2017/07/isla-calaca-nueva-pelicula-de-anima.html. live. In Spanish.
  8. News: Suarez. Andrea. CINESWAG - ISLA CALACA : NUEVA PELÍCULA DE ÁNIMA ESTUDIOS. 26 November 2017. Capital Comic. Capital Comic. 11 September 2017. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032242/http://capitalcomic.com/cineswag-isla-calaca-nueva-pelicula-de-anima-estudios/. live. In Spanish.
  9. News: Zahed. Ramin. Anima's 'Monster Island' Scares Up New Eyeballs. 23 November 2017. Animation Magazine. Animation Magazine. 1 September 2017. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031335/http://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/animas-monster-island-scares-up-new-eyeballs/. live.
  10. News: "Isla Calaca" lo nuevo de Ánima Estudios.. 26 November 2017. Noticas 1070. Noticas 1070. 14 September 2017. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031724/http://1070noticias.com.mx/espectaculos/isla-calaca-lo-nuevo-de-anima-estudios/. live. In Spanish.
  11. News: Huerta Ortiz. Cesar. Monstruos de "La isla Calaca" invaden cines. 26 November 2017. El Universal (Mexico City). El Universal. 2 September 2017. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201054404/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/espectaculos/cine/monstruos-de-la-isla-calaca-invaden-cines. live. In Spanish.
  12. News: "Isla Calaca" llegará con sus monstruos a salas mexicanas de cine. 26 November 2017. 20 Minutos. 20 Minutos. 14 September 2017. 20 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171120200501/http://www.20minutos.com.mx/noticia/269736/0/isla-calaca-llegara-con-sus-monstruos-a-salas-mexicanas-de-cine/. live.
  13. Web site: Mexico Box Office, September 15-17, 2017. Box Office Mojo. Amazon, Inc.. 20 December 2017. 22 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051531/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/mexico/?yr=2017&wk=37&currency=local&p=.htm. live.
  14. News: Bradshaw. Peter. Monster Island review – forgettable family animation. 26 November 2017. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 20 July 2017. 28 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171128172933/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jul/20/monster-island-review-family-animation. live.
  15. News: Salinas. Mabel. Isla Calaca – Crítica. 26 November 2017. Cine Premiere. Cine Premiere. 15 September 2017. 28 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171128231734/https://www.cinepremiere.com.mx/isla-calaca-critica.html. live. In Spanish.
  16. Web site: Monster Island . Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . 14 July 2023 . 14 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714012436/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/monster_island_2017_2 . live .
  17. Web site: Película: Isla Calaca . Tomatazos . BuscaTodo.com S de RL de CV . 14 July 2023 . Spanish . 14 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714012437/https://www.tomatazos.com/peliculas/271028/Isla-Calaca . live .
  18. News: Ganadores de los Premios Canacine 2017 . 21 April 2019 . Re Toma . Cine Toma . 9 December 2017 . 21 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190421054248/https://revistatoma.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/ganadores-premios-canacine-2017/ . live .