Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Elder Island’

Written by Scott Edwards

​There is something to be said about living in a small community, since most people that do never want to leave. With most of the world being blocked out, people are able to go along with their own business and do not have to worry about many things. But when the outsiders start to come in and see how peaceful things can really be outside of the big city, they decide that it may be the place for them as well and that can cause problems. Not needing the big box stores, much less more than one building to house different businesses, the outsiders always want to bring in their outside luxuries but have no idea what it will do to the formerly quiet town.

Graves Island is an out of the way island that just sticks to its roots and that is why the locals like it there, that and nobody meddles in their business.  But a rash of strange deaths in the woods over the years has sparked the interest of Stacy and Ned Ryerson who want to do a documentary on the island’s jaded past. Arriving on the island to see it is more of a one-horse town, Ned, Stacy and their helper April check into a ratty old hotel run by Jacob Wiggenstein and his family and are far from impressed with their surroundings. Checking in with Sheriff Ree on where and when they can shoot, he gives them free reign, but a warning as well, since the island has been known to gobble people up, never to be seen again.

Young Sam Wiggenstein and Brooke Ree have a little secret that they hope nobody finds out about. Young love has not passed as the two look forward to doing everything together for the rest of their days. But they both know that there is something strange happening on the island and would like nothing better to escape. When coming across the body of an outsider in the woods, Sam picks up the professor's backpack and sees that it contains some very strange accusations about the island and the families that have been living there for generations. With deaths being chalked up to his family name, along with Brooke’s, he knows that it is time to leave and has a plan on how the two can escape without anybody being the wiser. 

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​Graves Island is not without its demons as King James Strang was the reverend who was killed by his parishioners. With his new way of preaching, he also punished those who did not follow his teachings to show how much strength was needed to live on the island. Before dying, the preacher cursed all of the men involved and vowed that none of their families would be safe until they were all dead. Thinking little about this, the men buried the King and his family, but had no idea what they had released on the island.

With the King’s story only being a legend, Stacy, Ned and April find out that it sparks some hatred when talking to the sheriff about what might have happened on the island back in the day.  But after seeing their professor friend has been hacked limb from limb and seeing that his heart was ripped out of his chest, they are starting to believe. But there is someone else on the island that is taking care of the business that the long dead preacher is not as Lucas Heidegger is also about punishing the guilty. After hearing that April has been killed by someone or something in the woods, Stacy and Ned know that it is time to leave before they suffer the same fate. But some things are easier said than done as they quickly find out when a dead reverend, live crazy man, sheriff and island owner are all after them, but there might be help on the horizon when Sam and Brooke are looking for help in their own way.

I must admit that this movie kind of surprised me when all was said and done. The main characters were great, especially Lucas who knows what needs to be done on the island to keep it running the way it has for generations. Then with the King coming from the grave and seemingly picking off people in the woods at random, along with taking their hearts, well, my gore need was fulfilled. I liked the little love story that played out between Sam and Brooke as they are looking for a better life and I am sure that when Stacy and Ned met the young couple, they saw a bit of themselves there. I like the idea of a ghost hunting for vengeance and I wonder who the King’s next victim on the island will be, since it appears, he is about to lose the only youth element that was left. Stay Scared.

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