A fishing community on a remote Maine island finds itself suddenly cut off from the rest of the world after the ferry stops coming. When people start to vanish, the terrified survivors realize that someone – or something – is hunting them.

Buy the ticket and take the ferry ride to Josh Gerritsen’s indie creature-feature Island Zero, written by seasoned author Tess Gerritsen. As his first directorial venture, Island Zero is a horror, sci-fi mashup that premiered in 2017 to mixed reviews, and has since been updated in this new director’s cut.

We get a little taste of what’s to come with a well-placed cold-opening scene, a prologue to the island’s current events. After the inexplicable death of a woman, we are left knowing that there are about to be many quick and bloody demises at the hands (or tentacles) of a mysterious predator from the ocean. Fast forward 4 years into the present where this same fate is to befall many from this remote fishing town that lies a ferry’s ride away from the Maine coast. Where’d all the fish and lobsters go? It’s a question asked and eventually answered by Marine Biologist Sam (Adam Wade McLaughlin), widower to the movie’s first victim. Populations of multiple marine animals have dwindled due to predation by a new species; as the tagline says, every THING needs to eat, right? Tension around the island quickly escalates further when the ferry stops rolling in and the inhabitants are seemingly stranded. Meanwhile, people are starting to disappear.

Island Zero is one of those movies where you can’t see the monster in front of you, which adds to the suspense and the horror of the characters not being able to protect themselves. With the help of the town’s badass doctor Maggie (Laila Robins), Sam, his girlfriend Lucy (Teri Reeves), his astute young daughter, and two elderly neighbors all band together to survive the night. Little do they know, other more familiar predators are descending on their island with yet more sinister purposes.

I really like the editing on this – nothing seems unnecessary, and the pacing was spot on once the tension starts, aided by a subtle musical score that dutifully fills in the gaps. This movie could have very easily had someone come in and explicitly layout everything, but they doled out clues as to the mystery of the invisible creatures as the story unfolded – I was on a steady morphine drip of entertainment and I was right there with them… until the last 10 minutes. I bought the sometimes all too convenient plot because each character was written so well and with such distinct personality I could have even found this riveting as a live-theater play! Brick by brick, the Gerritsens laid the groundwork for setting, mood, and the blood and guts were fresh on tap. And yet, all that build up to the climax results in a finale that unfortunately fell flat for me. It was a little silly, and the payoff for monster reveal was underwhelming. Even still, I am decidedly impressed with Laila Robins’ acting, who stole almost every scene and even did its cliffhanger ending justice. For her, for the premise, and for the majority of the film, Island Zero is certified watchable, and may even be worth a rewatch.

The film was low budget. The horror needed in the climactic scene, as well as the special effects, suffered for it. The good parts though, and there were many, reminded me of other ensemble cast movies that I love so much – think The Thing meets The Mist. Plus, who doesn’t like a good sci-fi government cover-up movie? You will get that and more from Island Zero (Director’s Cut).