A grotesquely disfigured harpooner called Iguana is severely mistreated by his fellow sailors on a whaling ship in the 19th century. One night he escapes and takes up residence on a remote island. He makes himself ruler of the island and declares war on mankind. Anyone unfortunate enough to wind up on the island with Iguana is subjected to his cruel tyranny.
Acting
Everett McGill's feral, wordless physicality as Oberlus.
Direction
Hellman's uncompromising, hypnotic descent into madness.
Production
Sweat-drenched, claustrophobic island atmosphere you can smell.
Director
Monte Hellman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Everett McGill spent four hours daily in makeup and refused to speak to castmates to stay in character.
Based on a Herman Melville fragment, this was Hellman's return after an 8-year exile from Hollywood—a fitting parallel to Oberlus's isolation.
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