It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive

It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive

Year: 1987

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Larry Cohen

HorrorHorror

After a court orders the mutant infants to be confined on a remote island, the man who created them discovers that the children are not only surviving but multiplying. Outraged by the legal system’s callousness and the media’s exploitation, he organizes a daring expedition to rescue the babies and free them from the island’s cruel fate.

It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In a world where scientific breakthroughs have given birth to a new kind of humanity, a handful of mutant infants become the focus of a frantic public gaze. Their existence is treated as both a terrifying curiosity and a political pawn, prompting a courtroom decision that seals them away on a remote island—an isolated laboratory of nature and fear. The film’s atmosphere is drenched in a cold, unsettling tension, blending the stark clinical horror of bio‑ethics with the relentless glare of media sensationalism. Every frame feels like a study in how society isolates what it cannot understand, turning a legal ruling into a chilling backdrop for what might come next.

Stephen Jarvis once stood at the center of the controversy that birthed these children, a man whose scientific genius is now shadowed by personal loss and public vilification. Stripped of his former life and labeled a pariah, he wrestles with a profound guilt that the very beings he helped create are now condemned to an artificial exile. His resolve is driven not just by a scientist’s curiosity but by a desperate need to redeem himself in a world that has turned its back on both him and his creation. The tone surrounding him is one of quiet determination, underscored by a lingering sense of dread that the legal system’s cold calculus may have overlooked a deeper, more humane truth.

Ellen Jarvis, his estranged partner, occupies a fragile space between compassion and self‑preservation. Their strained relationship adds an intimate layer to the broader moral questions, as she must decide how much of her own future she is willing to sacrifice for the children who are simultaneously victims and symbols. Their dynamic is a study in conflicted loyalties, reflecting the larger societal split between exploitation and empathy.

When the decision to confine the mutants becomes a catalyst rather than a resolution, Stephen orchestrates a daring foray back to the island, intent on confronting the very forces that have sealed the children’s fate. The expedition promises to peel back the veneer of institutional indifference, hinting at hidden connections among the mutants and the world that condemned them. Dark, suspense‑laden, and rife with moral ambiguity, the film invites the audience to question how far one will go to rescue the voiceless when society has already decided their destiny.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:39

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Movies about parental love for monstrous children like It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive

Stories where protecting a terrifying child requires immense sacrifice.For viewers who liked the core theme of It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive, this list features movies where parental figures must protect children considered monstrous or unnatural. These similar horror and sci-fi dramas explore the heavy emotional weight of unconditional love in the face of societal fear and violence.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a parent or creator who discovers their child is dangerous or perceived as a threat. The central conflict pits their protective instincts against external forces—be it society, government, or science—that seek to destroy the child. The journey is one of sacrifice, moral ambiguity, and redefining what it means to be a family.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the theme of parental responsibility for a 'monstrous' child. They connect through a heavy emotional weight, dark tones, and the intense moral drama of choosing love in the face of horror and rejection.

Grim survival horror movies with mutants like It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive

Fast-paced tales of desperate expeditions into territories overrun by mutations.If you enjoyed the high-intensity island survival and mutant attacks in It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive, this collection highlights similar fast-paced horror movies. Explore stories of expeditions gone wrong, desperate struggles against monstrous creatures, and the grim reality of surviving in a hostile, mutated world.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a group or individual embarking on a mission to a confined, dangerous space—like an island, lab, or facility—that has been overrun by biological horrors. The plot is driven by action, frequent attacks, and the dwindling hope of escape, often culminating in a bittersweet or costly victory.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a cohesive vibe of high-intensity action, a dark and gruesome tone, and a fast-paced plot structure centered on survival against monstrous mutations. The similarity lies in the relentless pacing, the setting as a character, and the visceral experience of being hunted.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive

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