Iguana

Iguana

Year: 1988

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Monte Hellman

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A grotesquely disfigured harpooner called Iguana is mistreated by his fellow sailors aboard a 19th‑century whaling ship. One night he escapes, fleeing to a remote island where he declares himself ruler and wages a personal war against mankind. Any hapless visitor who washes ashore is forced to endure his cruel and ruthless tyranny in a cruel fashion.

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Timeline – Iguana (1988)

Trace every key event in Iguana (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Oberlus is ridiculed and abused on the whaling ship

Oberlus endures daily humiliation from the other sailors because of his deformed right side of the face. The abuse fuels a growing sense of isolation and anger. The harsh environment foreshadows the brutality he will source later.

early 19th century Whaling ship
2

Oberlus escapes to Hood Island after a brutal beating

After a brutal beating, Oberlus escapes to the uninhabited Hood Island, seeking refuge from his tormentors. He hides in a cave, nursing his wounds and plotting a return. His nickname Iguana references his grotesque facial growth.

Night of escape Hood Island
3

Gamboa's crew discover and torture Oberlus; he escapes

A team led by Captain Gamboa discovers Oberlus on Hood Island and tortures him, tying him up for further punishment. Oberlus manages to escape from the brutish display and disappears into the island’s caves. The encounter sets up his vow of revenge.

Shortly after capture Hood Island
4

Sebastian is punished for letting Oberlus escape

Gamboa punishes Sebastian by tying him to a post on the coast as a reminder of his failure. Oberlus later finds Sebastian and asserts control, reshaping him into a servant. The island becomes a prison for those left behind after the ship leaves.

After escape Coast of Hood Island
5

Oberlus proclaims himself King of Hood Island; Sebastian becomes his first slave

Accounting power over the desolate island, Oberlus declares himself king and makes Sebastian his first slave, forcing him to cook and serve him. The act solidifies his transition from victim to tyrant. The island becomes a personal domain under his brutal authority.

Some time after escape Hood Island
6

Oberlus enslaves two more sailors washed ashore

Oberlus extends his tyranny by enslaving two other sailors who wash ashore after a shipwreck. They are kept in the cave with a disguised entrance, hidden from any potential rescuer. His reign of terror deepens as the captives suffer under his rule.

Later Hood Island cave
7

Carmen and Diego are captured aboard a ship near Hood Island

A ship carrying Carmen and her fiancé Diego moors near the island and Oberlus seizes them as captives. Carmen resists, but Oberlus extracts his control over her and Diego's fate is sealed. The ship captain, assuming they perished in the storm, sails away without searching.

Following arrival near island Near Hood Island
8

Oberlus kills Diego and abducts Carmen; Carmen becomes his concubine

Oberlus kills Diego and claims Carmen as his concubine, deepening the power imbalance and cruelty. Carmen's pregnancy contradicts their initial captivity, adding a new layer of consequences. The ship’s captain abandons them to their grim fate.

Soon after capture Hood Island
9

Oberlus boards the original whaling ship at night; kills two sailors, captures Gamboa, and sets the ship ablaze

Under cover of darkness, Oberlus reappears on the ship, murders two sailors on deck, and takes Gamboa prisoner. He locks the hull and sets the vessel on fire, turning the ship into a death trap. The burning ship becomes a stage for his vengeance.

Night after capture Onboard the ship
10

Gamboa dies in struggle with Oberlus

Gamboa confronts Oberlus in a brutal fight but is killed by Oberlus, sealing his personal vengeance. The fiery chaos of the ship suffocates any chance of rescue. Carmen, pregnant, watches as the violence escalates.

During the confrontation On the burning ship
11

Carmen reveals she is pregnant; months later, the ship's captain returns

Carmen tells Oberlus that she is pregnant, a child he intends to deny and control. Months later, the captain of the original ship returns with armed sailors to search for Carmen and Diego. The survivors fear exposure and the island becomes a battleground again.

Months later Hood Island
12

Oberlus flees with Carmen and survivors to the far end of the island; plan to sail away

With the search intensifying, Oberlus gathers the surviving prisoners and retreats to the other end of Hood Island, plotting an escape by sea with Carmen. He fears capture and the possibility of his child being harmed by the world. The group hides, waiting for a chance to flee.

Months later Hood Island
13

Carmen gives birth; Oberlus abducts the newborn

Carmen gives birth to Oberlus’s child, a momentary fragile hope that is crushed when he seizes the infant. He refuses to let the child suffer the same fate he endured. The act cements his pariah status and escalates the final reckoning.

Birth moment Hood Island
14

Oberlus and the infant head toward the sea; intention to drown themselves

Carrying the newborn, Oberlus steps into the sea with the baby, intending to drown both of them. The act frames the ultimate escape from the island’s tyranny as a mutual destruction. The end suggests a grim closure to the tyrant’s reign.

On the sea after birth Sea (off Hood Island coast)

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:35

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about isolation and tyranny like Iguana

Stories about outcasts who become monstrous rulers in their isolated domains.Explore similar movies like Iguana that feature isolated characters descending into monstrous tyranny. If you were fascinated by the brutal exploration of power and cruelty in isolation, you'll find more movies here about outcasts turned predators, ruling over their own desolate kingdoms.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a linear downward spiral. A protagonist, marked by past trauma or physical difference, escapes or is cast out into a remote locale. Free from societal constraints, they seize control, often over new arrivals, and establish a rule defined by the same abuse they endured. The story is a straightforward chronicle of their escalating tyranny, ending in utter devastation.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on a specific, dark character arc: the abused becoming the abuser. They share a bleak tone, high emotional intensity, and a steady pace that methodically builds a portrait of moral collapse within a confined, oppressive setting.

Bleak survival horror movies like Iguana

Grim tales of survival where humanity is the first casualty in a hostile environment.Find more survival horror films with a bleak and heavy tone, similar to Iguana. If you appreciated the film's unrelenting cruelty, disturbing themes, and focus on the collapse of humanity in a desperate situation, this thread showcases movies with a similarly dark and oppressive survivalist vibe.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves characters stranded or trapped in a hostile environment—be it an island, the wilderness, or a post-apocalyptic landscape. The central conflict is not just against the elements, but against the monstrous behavior that emerges from within. The story is a straight path toward despair, where acts of violence, enslavement, and dehumanization become commonplace, culminating in a profoundly hopeless conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their overwhelmingly dark and oppressive atmosphere. They share a high intensity level, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on disturbing themes such as extreme violence, imprisonment, and the loss of humanity, offering a viewing experience defined by dread and bleakness.

Unlock the Full Story of Iguana

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Iguana Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Iguana, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Iguana Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Iguana

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Iguana

Iguana Spoiler-Free Summary

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Iguana Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Iguana

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