Isle Of The Snake People (1971)

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Isle of the Snake People is a surreal, low-budget Mexican-American horror film directed by Juan Ibáñez and Jack Hill, starring the legendary Boris Karloff in one of his final roles. Though filmed in 1968, it wasn’t released until 1971, two years after Karloff’s death, and is part of a quartet of films he made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Enrique Vergara.

Plot Summary
Set on the remote Pacific island of Korbai, the story follows Captain Pierre Labesch, a mainland officer sent to crack down on lawlessness and bizarre voodoo rituals. He encounters Annabella Vandenberg, a temperance crusader seeking help from her uncle, Carl van Molder (Karloff), a plantation owner with mysterious ties to the island’s occult practices.

As Annabella is drawn into the island’s dark underbelly, she’s kidnapped by a cult led by the sinister priest Damballah, who plans to sacrifice her to resurrect Baron Samedi, leader of the undead. Meanwhile, native women are transformed into zombies by a snake-dancing seductress named Kalea, and the island descends into supernatural chaos.

Cast Highlights

  • Boris Karloff as Carl van Molder / Damballah
  • Julissa as Annabella Vandenberg
  • Carlos East as Lt. Andrew Wilhelm
  • Rafael Bertrand as Capt. Labesch
  • Yolanda Montes as Kalea
  • Quintín Bulnes, Julia Marichal, and Santanón in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

  • Karloff’s scenes were filmed in Santa Monica, California, due to his poor health—he was 81, suffering from emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis, and could only breathe through an oxygen mask
  • The rest of the film was shot in Mexico City, with Karloff’s footage spliced in later
  • It was released in Spanish-language theaters before being dubbed into English and sold directly to U.S. television
  • The film is also known as Snake People (UK) and Cult of the Dead (Hungary)
  • A theatrical poster for the film appears in Ghostbusters (2016) as part of a nostalgic 1970s New York montage

Legacy
Isle of the Snake People is a cult oddity—a psychedelic blend of voodoo horror, zombie tropes, and Karloff’s haunting presence. Though disjointed and campy, it’s treasured by fans of vintage horror for its eerie atmosphere and its place in Karloff’s final cinematic chapter.

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