I feel like the word “fantasy” gets a bad rap. Like some how along the way, that word exclusively implied that you can only be talking about. I’ll be honest, for a long while I was in that group of people. Perhaps, it’s the culture that we surround ourselves with, that influences that notion. The actual definition of fantasy describes a “faculty or activity of imagining things.” A fantasy can be a number of different things. We all dream about different things. Some of us want to have that one last day with the grandparent or spouse or child we lost. Some of us want the opportunity to go to a different country we could never afford under our current financial status. Some of us wish to have the courage to stand up to the bully. Or even to ask that long time crush out. Some of us fantasize about being able to see student debt disappear. Point is, we all fantasize about something.

There is a line within the movie, Fantasy Island, that boasts the sad reality of fantasies – they rarely ever end the way we want them to. That’s the unfortunate nature of them. For as much energy as we waste chasing them, ultimately we are chasing something that we think will make us happy. Only to let us down in the end. When all along we could have used that same energy to grow as an individual. Yes, that’s a small challenge to grow. Since we’re already on the subject of fantasy, why not talk about Blumhouse’s attempt at taking a completely obscure television property from the 70s and remaking it into a horror movie for a modern-day audience. And no, I’m not talking about The Banana Splits. That movie was last year and you can read that review here. No, I’m talking about Fantasy Island.

Its cinematic counterpart brings together a group of five people to live out their fantasy. All made possible by a contest and the ever generous, Mr. Roarke (Michael Pena). The pacing of Fantasy is interesting to note. The first act feels almost breakneck at the speed it goes. Quickly establishing the characters and their fantasies. By the time, the film transitions into its second act, the core cast is already separated and living out their best lives. Through this transition, it’s worth noting that the pace becomes increasingly slower.  The core of the second act is really interesting to watch unfold. It feels like its’ focus is as much on character development, as it is for its slow burn attempt at merging all the arcs together. At any given time, you have a total of five arcs going on at one time.

Pena, Lucy Hale’s Melanie, Maggie Q’s Elena, Austin Stowell’s Patrick and of course, the brotherly duo in Jimmy O. Yang and Ryan Hansen. Yang and Hansen maybe the weakest links within the film. They feel the most shallow of the characters written. To make matters a little bit worse, they feel like rehashes of their Like a Boss characters. However, for almost nearly every other character there is an unexpected amount of depth that the narrative successfully establishes. Arcs like Hale & Stowell allow for the film to address themes of bitterness, loss and bullying. Perhaps, the best thing on the island is the slow marriage of the arcs. The movie spends most of its time focusing between the fantasies of each character until said fantasies slowly start to unwind into one another.

By the time, viewers reach the third act, the tightness of the second act and the amalgamation of the fantastical becomes a bit disjointed. While there is an interesting lore to be explored, the majority of the third act feels tonally misplaced. To make matters, a tad worse, the film feels like it drags during this part of the movie. Ultimately returning to its roots of the first act, feeling quickly paced. It’s not sure, the final act feels distracted from what its’ end goal is aiming to be. That’s the saddest fantasy of all.

Overall, Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island, is a cult classic in the making. While chances are strong, it won’t land with modern audiences, it’ll surely grow in the underground movie scene. The pacing can be a little awkward at times. With a brisk first act, slower second act and a final act that is an amalgamation of both. Nevertheless, this is a fun little horror film that has some surprising depth to it. Performances from Lucy Hale and Michael Pena only solidify the strength of the movie. Some of the characters come across flat, not to mention fall into genre tropes. Even if this isn’t exactly how you imagined your fantasy - Fantasy Island is a fun little film itching its way to cult status.

RORSCHACH RATING:

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and you are struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message or tweet to us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars. Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island is property of Sony Pictures & Blumhouse Productions. We do not own nor claim any rights.