spoiler owe much to edgar allan poe ( a do several of his budget picture ) and val lewton production of isle of the dead have it all represent the fear of premature burial and the fear of contagion and the fear of the undead while the fear of madness . center stage ( which be exactly where he belong all along ) be boris karloff . not for the final time do he steal the show in a lewton production . harden by the horror of war ( include the plague that follow close on it heel ) and his character be drive to the brink of . well and see for yourself . suffice it to say that the lewton unit strike gold again . a absorbing ( and a unique ) a it predecessor and isle of the dead belongs among the first rank of fright film .