I am a perennial supporter of underdog cinema. In fact, I pen a Dread Central column called The Overlooked Motel that’s dedicated to championing overlooked and underrated films. I began writing that recurring feature several years ago because I love discovering a diamond in the rough. It’s a rush to unearth a cinematic treasure lost to time. And it’s equally exciting to share these discoveries with like-minded film lovers.

With that in mind, I’m here today to spread the word about a picture from our distribution arm (DREAD) that remains woefully under-seen. But rest assured that no one asked me to write this piece and that I will be brutally honest so you know exactly what you’re in for. The film I’m championing today is called Island Escape. It’s a feature that melds action tropes with horror and science fiction elements. The flick delivers strong editing, an ever-present sense of paranoia, and a bevy of twists and turns along the way that lead to a rousing conclusion…