H.G. Wells's The Island of Dr. Moreau, Adapted

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“His is the hand that makes. His is the hand that hurts. His is the hand that heals. His is the House of Pain.“

– The Sayer of the Law

Greetings, horror addicts.

In this post, we’ll be plunging into the eerie world of one of legendary sci-fi writer H.G. Wells’ most spine-tingling novels – “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Since its publication in 1896, this classic piece of horror/science fiction has inspired countless authors, filmmakers, and yes, even comic book creators. So, tighten your grip and steel your nerves as we embark on this unsettling journey through a literary labyrinth, an illustrated island, and cinematic spectacles that sought to bring this unforgettable tale to horrifying life.

First, let’s set the scene. British author H.G. Wells is a veritable god in the world of speculative fiction, a man whose imagination has given us timeless works like “The War of the Worlds” and “The Time Machine.” Among his chilling repertoire is “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” a novel that first haunted readers way back in 1896. So, what’s the fuss about? Well, whip out your surgical scrubs ’cause things are about to get juicy.

Table of Contents

The Novel

“The Island of Dr. Moreau” is no typical tropical vacation. The novel introduces us to Edward Prendick, an English scientist and shipwreck survivor who washes ashore on a remote island. This would-be paradise, however, is home to the sinister Doctor Moreau, a scientist with a god complex and a penchant for vivisection. Moreau is hell-bent on transforming animals into human-like creatures through a gruesome series of surgical procedures.

As Prendick navigates this nightmarish island, we’re left to grapple with deep-seated fears and questions. What does it mean to be human? How fine is the line between man and beast? And how far is too far in the name of science? As is to be expected, the fragile state of affairs on the island cannot hold, and things fall apart, to paraphrase William Butler Yeats. This happens in a suitably bloody denouement of chaotic terror that fright fans across the generations can appreciate.

As a horror enthusiast, I find Wells’ masterful blend of horror and science fiction utterly captivating. It’s more than just a parade of grotesque creatures and mad science. At its heart, it’s a profound exploration of ethical boundaries, the essence of humanity, and the terror that lurks in the unchecked ambition of man. The novel hits home because it holds up a mirror to our darkest capabilities, taking readers on a mental and emotional rollercoaster that’s just as harrowing as the physical horrors Moreau’s creatures endure.

On a more personal note, I remember vividly when I first encountered the novel. My mom’s best friend was in hospice, and we would visit her on the weekends. This was around 1986 or so. The hospice was near a small library, so I would wander over there and explore the stacks while my mom and her friend were reminiscing about old times. I remember that library had tons of Star Trek novels and stuff like the Hardy Boys and the Famous Five. They also had a beat-up old copy of The Island of Doctor Moreau.

Not having a library card for that particular location, I did not borrow the novel but spent the subsequent weekend visits reading it in the library. It so profoundly disturbed me that I had nightmares about it, but this should be expected since I was a kid at the time.

My mom’s friend passed away, and we never went back to that part of the city. Once, as an adult, I went to check if that library was still there. It wasn’t. I often wonder what happened to that copy of the novel, who read it before me, and whose minds it blew after I put it back on the shelf that final time.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a comic book adaptation from IDW of the novel a few years back. I read it and loved it. This made me pick up a copy of the novel again since I felt a hankering to re-read the source material. It was every bit as disturbing as when I first encountered it thirty-odd years ago, if not more so.

But before we discuss the comic, let’s step into the world of cinema and look at the movie adaptations of H.G. Wells’ classic; films I encountered between reading the novel and its eventual graphic adaptation on the comic book page.

The Films

The first film adaptation of Wells’s classic was “The Island of Lost Souls,” the 1932 American pre-Code horror film directed by Erle C. Kenton and produced by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Waldemar Young and Philip Wylie. Dr. Moreau is portrayed by Charles Laughton, while Richard Arlen plays the shipwrecked protagonist, Edward Parker. Bela Lugosi, famous for his role as Dracula, also has a significant role in the film as the Sayer of the Law, one of Moreau’s beast-men.

“The Island of Lost Souls” faced quite a bit of controversy upon its release due to its violent content and disturbing themes. As a result, it was banned in a few countries, including the United Kingdom. This naturally impacted its initial commercial success and reception.

However, with time, the film has garnered significant attention and has been recognized for its achievements. It’s now often viewed as a classic example of early horror cinema. It’s also notable for Charles Laughton’s chilling portrayal of Dr. Moreau.

Personally, this first film is a tough watch. It is boring at times and not at all frightening. Still, the performances are outstanding, and the subject matter is provocative. Thinking back, I can’t recall when I first saw this movie, only that I did. It did not leave much of an impression on me, but then my tastes run more toward the horror films of the 1960s and 70s.

In 1977 and then again in 1996 (the latter exactly a hundred years after the publication of the original novel) the chilling story found its way back to the silver screen. With scripts that take some liberties with Wells’ narrative, these more recent films weave their own macabre tales of mad science, ethical horror, and the suffering of hapless human-animal hybrids.

The 1977 film never played on TV when I was a kid, and I never saw it at the local Video Store. The 1996 movie did not show at our local theater, and there was almost no buzz about it, even though it featured stars like Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. It was only years later that I managed to rent the DVD. It fascinated me, not because it was a cinematic masterpiece, but because it brought the book back so vividly in my memory. I resolved to track down the first adaptation as well, the 1977 film by Don Taylor starring Burt Lancaster and Michael York. I ended up loving it more than the 1996 ‘remake,’ but ultimately both are fine adaptations and films I could probably rewatch half a dozen times before tiring of them.

For the purposes of this post, I’ll start by discussing the 1996 adaptation since that is the one I came to first. Marlon Brando stars as the eponymous Doctor Moreau, Val Kilmer as his assistant Doctor Montgomery, David Thewliss as Edward Douglas (in the novel he is surnamed Pendrick), and Ron Perlman as the Sayer of the Law.

First off, Brando and Kilmer bring a distinct, larger-than-life quality to the film. Brando’s portrayal of Moreau is truly eccentric, a being shrouded in white and often seen under an umbrella, his soft-spoken demeanor forming a chilling contrast to the monstrous acts he orchestrates. Kilmer, meanwhile, delivers a manic performance that adds an extra layer of instability to the island’s already unsettling ambiance. David Thewliss delivers an acceptable performance as the protagonist, but it does not eclipse the onscreen presence of Brando, who casts a shadow over all.

While the film incorporates many elements from the original novel, it veers away in several respects, adding unique plot twists and characters. The result is a new interpretation of the narrative, a fresh take on the horrifying possibilities that the story presents. The special effects, makeup, and creature designs are remarkable for their time and provide a visually striking embodiment of Moreau’s monstrous creations, so there is a lot to like here.

The 1977 adaptation is an intriguing, albeit sometimes campy, exploration of the classic tale of scientific ambition gone horrifyingly awry. Directed by Don Taylor and featuring Burt Lancaster as the titular Doctor Moreau and Michael York as the unfortunate shipwreck survivor Andrew Braddock, the film is a fascinating artifact from a time when the horror genre was still finding its feet in the world of mainstream cinema.

Lancaster’s Doctor Moreau is a decidedly different creature than Marlon Brando’s interpretation in the 1996 adaptation. Lancaster presents a more stoic and outwardly composed Moreau, a mad scientist who has convinced himself of his own righteousness. His cold, methodical demeanor contrasts sharply with Brando’s more eccentric and unpredictable portrayal.

Michael York’s Andrew Braddock (the original adaptation seemed to have set the standard for not using the character name of ‘Prendrick’) is the primary lens through which we explore the horrors of Moreau’s island. York’s performance as the bewildered and horrified protagonist serves as a counterpoint to Lancaster’s chillingly detached Moreau.

The character dynamics between Moreau and Braddock create an eerie and unique tension throughout the film, which is probably why I enjoyed this adaptation more than the 1996 version. The story also introduces some romance, which is lacking in the novel. Braddock’s love interest in the movie is the cat-hybrid Maria, implied to be Moreau’s daughter, who is played by Barbara Carrera.

Stylistically, the 1977 film has a raw, unpolished feel that adds to the overall sense of unease. The practical effects and makeup used to bring Moreau’s beast-men to life might seem a little dated to modern audiences, but they contribute to a certain disturbing charm that the film possesses.

In comparison to the 1996 film, the 1977 adaptation is less ostentatious and takes slightly fewer narrative liberties. While the 1996 movie uses over-the-top performances and eccentric characterizations to drive home the grotesque reality of Moreau’s experiments, the 1977 film is more restrained, using atmosphere and suggestion to create a sense of dread and horror. It also introduces a serum created by Moreau that slowly changes humans into animals. Even Braddock, the hero of the story, becomes a victim of it. This leads to a bittersweet ending. Don Taylor, the director, clearly put a lot of thought and effort into making a film that manages to both enchant and disquiet the audience while still staying true to the spirit of the novel, despite all the new elements introduced.

As a horror buff, I found both movies to be troubling but compelling explorations of the themes that Wells first presented. The films give us a more tangible sense of the horror and uncanniness of Moreau’s island, making the grotesque a visible reality through the magic of cinema. While they may not have received universal acclaim upon release, for a true terror fan, both are definitely worth watching, as much for the performances as for the bold interpretations of Wells’ original narrative.

Now let’s step into the panels of the aforementioned comic book, an adaptation by Gabriel Rodriguez (from Locke & Key fame) and writer Ted Adams, and explore exactly how they brought this terrifying tale to life.

The Comics

Before we talk about the modern adaptation of the novel in comic book form, it’s time for a bit of trivia. You might be surprised to learn that Marvel Comics adapted the first film in 1977. It was penciled by Larry Hama and written by Doug Moench. The cover is by Gil Kane, and it follows the beat of the film almost scene by scene.

Then, in 2019, Gabriel Rodriguez and Ted Adams took on the challenge of adapting Wells’ classic novel into a more polished graphic form, a task that can be as daunting as navigating Moreau’s own island. The task at hand? How to stay faithful to the original story from the novel while simultaneously adding their unique flair and visual storytelling style.

This comic adaptation (originally released as two single issues, then later as a beautiful hardcover and a trade paperback) does not disappoint. Rodriguez’s art style breathes life – if you can call it that – into Moreau’s creations. The blend of detail and exaggeration captures the grotesque and pitiful nature of these beings in a way that prose alone might not fully convey. Meanwhile, Ted Adams adapts Wells’ narrative with a keen eye for pacing and tension, delivering a story that’s as captivating as it is chilling, though not strictly following the plot of the novel. It differs in a number of aspects, but rather than detract from the story, it adds to it. Prendrick is a woman in this tale, for one. The tale has a happy ending for another.

One thing that genuinely intrigued me about the comic book adaptation is how it allowed for a visual exploration of the horror elements in Wells’ tale. Each panel is a splash of grotesque imagery that paints the morbid reality of Moreau’s island in vivid detail. Seeing the creatures in their half-human forms is disturbing in a way that really hammers home the ethical quandaries and body horror that are at the heart of this story.

The scenes of vivisection might disturb sensitive readers. Rodriguez does not shy away from showing every bloody bit in Dr. Moreau’s operating room. There are also fantastic action panels where creatures and at times humans, are being pursued through the jungle. These scenes are positively kinetic.

The island itself is detailed and breathtaking to behold. While reading, I felt like I was walking alongside Prendick, witnessing the monstrosities of Moreau’s making with my own eyes. The comic does an excellent job of enhancing the sense of personal horror and revulsion that’s central to the narrative. It’s an immersive, visceral journey that I believe every horror comic fan should embark on.

Yet, as visually striking and horrifying as the comic adaptation is, it maintains the soul of Wells’ original story. It forces us to face the same haunting questions and wrestle with the uneasy feeling that, in the grand scheme of things, perhaps we aren’t so different from the creatures on Moreau’s island.

The Wrap-Up

It’s time to reflect on the lasting impact of this chilling tale and its pervasive presence across multiple mediums. As H.G. Wells’ twisted narrative has traveled from prose to panels and then to the big screen, it’s transformed, evolved, and yet, remained horrifyingly pertinent.

“The Island of Dr. Moreau” is a prime example of a narrative that transcends its original medium. The tale taps into our deep-seated fears about morality, the nature of humanity, and the potential horrors of unchecked scientific advancement. As such, it’s been able to adapt and thrive across various forms, its core messages resonating with audiences regardless of the format.

The various adaptations of “The Island of Dr. Moreau” prove that a good story – especially a good horror story – can traverse mediums and still maintain its ability to unsettle, provoke, and horrify. Each version offers a unique lens through which to explore the chilling world Wells created, and for us horror fans, that’s a journey worth taking.

So, if you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you give each version a chance. See how they approach the narrative differently, how they interpret the horror, and most importantly, how they each make your skin crawl.

Thanks for reading, arcane aficionados. If you have thoughts, please leave some comments below and we’ll get a conversation going. And remember to subscribe to the blog to be notified of future posts. And if you would like to read some classic science-fiction by H.G. Wells or the IDW comics adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau, check out the following links below.

Alternatively, you can check out the 1977 film, or the 1996 version at these links. The Longbox of Darkness also recommends the following tomes for you book lovers out there:

* Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means that The Longbox of Darkness will earn an affiliate commission at zero cost to you if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.