The Fyre Festival was an infamous failure, but what if instead of dilapidated FEMA tents and laughably bad food, it was a disaster because of psychological torture and Us-like evil doppelgängers? That seems like a pretty good pitch for Fantasy Island, based on the new trailer for the February horror movie.
Fantasy Island comes from Blumhouse, the same studio behind Us and Get Out, and while this movie probably won’t reach the same lofty heights as Jordan Peele’s two films, it’s shaping up to be the first really fun horror flick of the year. When lucky guests—including ones played by Maggie Q and Lucy Hale— get coveted invitations to a “Mr. Roarke’s” tropical island resort, they’re excited to have all their fantasies come true. Except, as the trailer reveals, these fantasies aren’t just your typical lusting for sun, booze, and sex. Instead, children are brought back from the dead and high school bullies are kidnapped so that their former victims can turn the tables in horrifying, unwitting fashion.
Fantasy Island is a reimagining of an old ‘70s TV series of the same name, although the show was more of a supernaturally tinged drama rather than all-out horror, as the upcoming film looks to be. In addition to inspiring the Blumhouse movie, the Fantasy Island series is notable these days for a much-lampooned moment from the episodes’ opening, when Mr. Roarke’s assistant Tattoo (played by Hervé Villechaize, an actor who had dwarfism), shouted “Ze plane! Ze plane!” as Roarke’s latest guests touched down.
Ryan Hansen, one of the actors in the 2020 film, confirmed in July of last year that the new version wouldn’t have Tattoo, which seems like it’s probably for the best. Villechaize died in 1993, and the optics of casting another little person in a role that maybe hasn’t aged super well aren’t great.
Michael Peña will play Mr. Roarke in the new movie, taking over for Star Trek: Wrath of Khan star Ricardo Montalbán who played him in the original series.
Fantasy Island probably won’t be the loftiest horror movie of the year, but it looks fun, and in the middle of February—cold and miserable as it is—doesn’t watching a bunch of people eat it on a warm tropical beach sound like a good time?
Fantasy Island hits theaters on Valentine’s Day, so bring your sweetheart.
