The Live Wire: Why Did I Watch This?

Is it worth the time?

Look, unless you are a total sucker for 1930s bargain-bin adventures, probably not. If you get a kick out of stiff acting and sets that look like they were made of damp cardboard, you might find something to love here. Everyone else? You’ll probably be bored within ten minutes. 🌊

The whole thing starts with a sailor finding a vase. It’s not even a particularly nice vase, but it's enough to get the plot moving. The archaeologists show up looking very serious and important. They talk a lot. Most of it is just filler to get us to the island.

The island, though. It’s supposed to be uncharted and mysterious. It mostly just looks like a backyard with some palm trees shoved into the frame. There’s a temple, or at least a wall that’s supposed to be a temple. You can see the stage lights reflecting off the 'ancient' stone if you squint.

I found myself thinking about The Arizona Terror while watching this. At least that one had some energy. This movie feels like it’s moving through molasses on a hot day.

The cast is huge, but nobody really gets a chance to breathe. Everyone just walks into the frame, says their line, and stands there waiting for the next person to talk. It’s all very stilted. There’s one guy, I think it was George Walsh, who looks like he’s trying to hold in a sneeze for the entire scene. It’s distracting.

I did like the way the shadows fell across the floor in the temple scenes. Someone actually tried with the lighting. It’s the only part where it felt like an actual movie rather than a filmed stage play. 🔦

Random notes from my notepad:

• The vase appears and disappears between cuts. Magic!
• The sound quality is rough. It sounds like they recorded the dialogue inside a tin can.
• I really wonder who thought that fake beard was a good idea. It looks like a squirrel glued to the guy's chin.
• The pacing is weird. We spend forever on the boat, then five minutes in the 'lost' civilization.

It’s not as fun as Shackles of Fear, but it has this weird, sleepy vibe. It’s almost soothing in how bad it is. Sometimes you don't want a masterpiece. Sometimes you just want to watch people walk around an island looking for a vase that probably wasn't worth the trip anyway.

I don't know. Maybe don't watch this at night. You’ll be asleep by the second act, and then you'll have to deal with the guilt of leaving the movie unfinished. Or maybe that's just me. 😴