Taking every aspect of the "lost island" movies that began the giant monster genre, Unknown Island is a cheap, quick knock-off. Even with a parade of clichés, there's still potential with dinosaurs romping around the screen. That never happens, and the special effects make sure of it.

Starring Richard Denning, who would go on to work in numerous other sci-fi projects in the '50s, this outing concerns that proverbial island that man has never visited. A ship is obtained, the captain paid, and the cast moves out to sea. It's around the 20-minute mark that the first dinosaur appears, an immobile prop on a miniature set that was embarrassing back in 1948, let alone 2006.

A few disagreements and fights for the sake of some action pad the running time until a herd (flock?) of Tyrannosaurs pop up on screen. One of the crew was dumb enough to try and make a run for it. He would have been safe most likely since the guys in the suits have almost zero mobility, running into each other or stumbling over themselves in an attempt to create some type of movement. The tiny arms simply hang on the outside of the suit, wiggling uncontrollably.

That's not the only species alive on this island. The crew went all out to recreate a giant sloth that looks nothing like a giant sloth and a finned critter that has less mobility than the T. Rexes. Well known Virginia Gray spends most of her time yelling at her fiancée or in close-ups with a look of horror as the stumbling beasts randomly move around.

There's a lack of care here, too. The suits may have been given a pass, but what was surely a lacking budget prevented any sense of scale. Not only do the dinosaurs avoid making their way on screen with humans at every turn, there are shots where the monsters aren't even as tall as a small tree. It literally looks like this was filmed out in the open with no care as to sets or miniatures.

About the only credit you can give to this one is its color photography. This has to the first "monster on the loose" flick ever produced with a full palette, and it would be years until we'd see another. That must be where the budget ended up.

With a Cinecolor transfer, it's going to be hard to judge the transfer. The color tends to fade in and out. It's unavoidable without a full restoration, and no one is going to fork the money over for that to happen. The print exhibits heavy damage at times, and grain is constantly evident. It's within acceptable standards given the circumstances.

Audio is surprisingly crisp for its age. This mono track exhibits very little distortion. The roars and soundtrack come through just fine.

Be glad Unknown Island is on DVD in the first place. That means you won't be disappointed when it loads directly to a chapter selection. There isn't even an opening menu. (No stars)

To check out some real Richard Denning monster movies, look for Black Scorpion, or the true classic, Creature from the Black Lagoon. He also made his way into a few clunkers like Day the World Ended and the obscure Creature with the Atom Brain.