The Reel Review
Residents of a fishing village on an island off the coast of Maine end up fighting for their lives after ferry service is suddenly disrupted and people start mysteriously disappearing. A local marine biologist and a traveling doctor team up to determine if residents are being hunted by an undiscovered deep-sea creature, in this 2018 sci-fi horror/mystery.
Considering its shoestring budget (much of the wardrobe was bought at Goodwill shops across the state), first time director Josh Gerritsen does a pretty decent job moving forward the screenplay written by his mystery writer mother Tess, at least in the first half of the thriller. But once the gore starts, some fake looking props and some ridiculously convoluted plot gyrations turn Island Zero into a hokey, B movie – a low-rent creature feature with creatures visible only via a thermal camera, a la Predator. That’s one way to work around budget limitations.
Unfortunately, the second half of the film flounders, with a confusing line-up of too many characters and a lot of amateurish, wooden acting. Of its leads, Laila Robins (Eye in the Sky, Homeland) is the most charismatic and compelling – as the no nonsense, battle-wise doctor. While an admirable effort, the film sputters to a lackluster finish, making it only slightly better than most low budget horror films.
REEL FACTS
• Filming took place on the Maine islands of Islesboro (population 530) and Monhegan (population 64) as well as the surrounding mainland.
• Aside from the four lead roles, almost all the other parts were cast with Maine actors – many of whom had never before appeared in a feature film.
• Son and mother duo Josh and Tess Gerritsen also worked together on the 2022 pig documentary, Magnificent Beast.
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