The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells -- his most horrific novel --read it with Warren Curious!

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:06]The Island of Dr. Moreau.

[00:00:11]Sometime ago, I had an exchange with Mr. Rob Sterling, owner of the Atomic Snack Bar, which is a channel you should know and support.

[00:00:24]Linked to it in the description.

[00:00:27]Mr. S suggested that the Island of Dr. Moreau was the most horrific novel ever written by H.G. Wells, his only real horror yarn.

[00:00:41]He also suggested that director Herschell Gordon Lewis could have made a disturbingly gory film out of it.

[00:00:51]If I have misrepresented your views, Mr. S, please feel free to correct me in the comments or on the Snack Bar if you are so inclined.

[00:01:07]Of course, this novel has been filmed several times, but the version I'm familiar with is the 1932 Paramount pre-code The Island of Lost Souls, which featured the great Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau and the even greater Bela Lugosi as one of the men, the Sayer of the Law.

[00:01:36]I first saw it when I was a kid, and I have vivid memories of it. For when it came on local TV, my dad was all excited, as he had seen it when he was a kid.

[00:01:50]So, we watched it together, which was unusual, as the old man wasn't into this horror stuff.

[00:01:58]He was more a baseball, football kind of guy.

[00:02:02]Now, as a horror reader, I am more familiar with the classics and weird tales than I am with contemporary authors.

[00:02:13]In terms of horror cinema, I'm also old school.

[00:02:18]I'm hip to the horror directors of the '30s, '40s, and '50s.

[00:02:25]But after Roger Corman, not so much.

[00:02:29]Why am I telling you all this?

[00:02:33]Mr. Sterling's comment made Warren curious.

[00:02:37]And as a result, I've decided to reread The Island of Dr. Moreau, and I'd like to encourage you all to read along with me.

[00:02:48]Whenever you see this video is when I will have commenced reading.

[00:02:54]So, please join me.

[00:02:56]As you can see from the images on screen, I have my choice of editions.

[00:03:03]And I'll let you know which one has the best introduction.

[00:03:08]I'd love to hear your thoughts on the novel.

[00:03:11]And as well, I have two questions for you.

[00:03:16]One, did H. G. Wells ever write anything more horrifying than this?

[00:03:24]And if so, what?

[00:03:27]And two, which modern horror director do you think would make the best and most terrifying version of this story?

[00:03:40]Please share your opinions in the comments.

[00:03:45]By the way, the 1932 Island of Lost Souls was directed by Earl C. Kenton, a journeyman and a former Keystone Cop, who was at the helm for a number of lesser Universal Horrors, such as The Ghost of Frankenstein, 1942, House of Frankenstein, 1944, House of Dracula, 1945, which is actually kind of an interesting film.

[00:04:21]And finally, The Cat Creeps, 1946, which was the only horror movie my mother ever saw.

[00:04:31]In 1932, Kenton was paid $750 a week, about 17,000 in today's money, to direct Island of Lost Souls, which sounds like good pay to me.

[00:04:50]But, don't be a lost soul.

[00:04:53]Please join me in reading The Island of Doctor Moreau by Herbert George Wells.

[00:05:02]And Till Midnight, Are We Not Men?

[00:05:08]No, we are curious.

[00:05:56]>> Hey.