As a horror fan, I don’t simply love the genre for its fear-inducing creativity, violence/gore, or it’s eerie scores. I also love it because it’s able to produce all those things while sneakily feeding us a message that oftentimes we didn’t know we were getting; like a parent feeding a baby with the airplane spoon. Whether it’s delivered scared straight style, noir, or satirically, horror movies can provide social commentary through escapism that speaks to the current state of the times in which the films are released. In my lifetime some of the biggest and well-known fright flicks have tackled some big issues such as eating disorders (Drag Me to Hell), race (Get Out), and bullying (Carrie). Undoubtedly, all provided us with a horrifying mirror and a call to change.
Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island provides the same call. I had the privilege of being on a conference call with Fantasy Island director, Jeff Wadlow, and star, Lucy Hale to ask one big question, “Is there a message that you want to convey with this movie?”
Jeff Wadlow responds:
Yeah! Don’t live your life in regret, you know. That you have to move forward and you can’t be consumed by the past because it will consume you.
Lucy Hale adds:
Yeah, it’s toxic.
I think that’s a message we can all support. Fantasy Island follows four people who have the opportunity to live out any fantasy they can imagine, perhaps something they regret never doing, but fantasies come with a price. The film stars Lucy Hale, Michael Pena, Maggie Q, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hansen, and Michael Rooker.
Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island releases in theaters on February 14th. Perfect for Valentine’s Day date night.
Synopsis:
The enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
