MONSTER ISLAND (2004)
“Monster Island,” a 2004 made-for-TV horror-comedy directed by Jack Perez, is a campy nod to 1950s creature features, produced under the MTV banner. The story follows Josh (Daniel Letterle), a high school senior dumped by his girlfriend Maddy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who unwittingly wins an MTV contest—thanks to his sister Jen (Chelan Simmons)—for a tropical getaway to see Carmen Electra. The prize lands Josh and his classmates on a remote island in the Bermuda Triangle, where a party turns chaotic when a giant flying ant kidnaps Electra during her performance. Determined to impress Maddy, Josh leads a rescue mission with pals Andy (Jeff Geddis), Stack (Cascy Beddow), and others, including Jen and ditzy Eightball (Joe MacLeod).
The island teems with oversized, radioactive mutants—praying mantises, a fish-like Piranha Man, and soldier ants—spawned by military experiments gone awry. Dr. Harryhausen (Adam West), a quirky scientist named after stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen, reveals the island’s toxic past and impending doom. Maddy finds a mystical necklace, channeling a goddess-like resolve that guides them to a mountain lair where Electra is worshipped by a lost tribe enslaved by a queen ant. The group battles through monster attacks—Eightball sacrifices himself to a mantis with a bulldozer—before Maddy’s power frees the tribe, sparking a revolt. Harryhausen stays behind, detonating the queen and himself, while Josh’s crew escapes with Electra as the island quakes.
Loaded with cheesy effects, rubber-suit monsters, and ’90s MTV vibes, the film leans into its low-budget absurdity—think stop-motion mantises and Electra in a skimpy outfit. Critics call it a dated mess, but its self-aware silliness and early Winstead charm earn it cult status. “Monster Island” is a goofy, nostalgic romp for B-movie lovers.
