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The Island

Name: The Island
Director: Leong Po-Chih
Released: 1985
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

1985

Director

Leong Po-Chih

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film stands as a significant work of the Taiwanese New Wave, succeeding by decentering the Western gaze. Its primary strength lies in its authentic cultural grounding and its commitment to localized, realist narratives rather than commercial escapism. However, the film remains tied to traditional social hierarchies. It does not actively work to challenge gendered power structures or include diverse sexual identities, maintaining a focus on established patriarchal family units. Ultimately, the film uses the horror genre to examine the fragility of social contracts. It provides a sophisticated critique of communal stability through a specific regional lens.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Island have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any clear representations of LGBTQ+ narratives or non-cisgender identities. Instead, it focuses on traditional, fragmented communal and familial structures.

How does The Island portray gender?

Fair

Gender roles follow traditional 1980s rural Taiwanese hierarchies. The story explores social rejection related to marriage but does not challenge patriarchal power dynamics or give priority to female empowerment.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Island?

Excellent

The production excels in localized authenticity by featuring a predominantly Taiwanese cast. It avoids the outsider perspective, emphasizing indigenous social realities over Westernized stereotypes.

How does The Island represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative critiques traditional institutions by showing how rigid social refusals can lead to chaos. It offers a nuanced view of communal stability through a non-Western perspective.

Does The Island include disability representation?

Minimal

The film includes characters with dementia, but it is unclear if these portrayals have ability to act. They may simply serve as horror clichés within the genre.

Present on Screen

Strong commitment to localized authenticity and regional storytelling.
Effective disruption of Anglo-centric cinematic dominance.
Nuanced critique of traditional social institutions and communal stability.

Limited or Absent

Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender narratives.
Adherence to traditional gender roles and patriarchal social hierarchies.
Potential use of mental instability as a mere horror cliché.

Official Synopsis

John Shum leads an expedition to an supposedly deserted island only to find out that it's inhabited by a group of seriously demented characters, lead by Peter Chan Lung. This is a family that stays together, slays together and when the youngest one is refused in marriage to one of the young girls of the troupe they turn into savage maniacs.

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