Fantasia 2022: ‘Island of Lost Girls’ Review

Stars: Autumn Schmidt, Avila Schmidt, Scarlet Schmidt | Written and Directed by Ann-Marie Schmidt, Brian Schmidt

My Fantasia viewing continues with Island of Lost Girls – a very unique kind of family film. Part thriller part action movie but all centred on three young sisters stuck at sea. The three sisters are waiting to be adopted but decide to sneak out of the house one day, hoping to have fun together. They head for the beach but when the youngest sister gets caught in the waves, they all end up on a surfboard floating towards a sea cave. A sea cave with fast flowing waves, Sea lions and elephant seals.

With the whole film’s focus on the three girls, it was critical that they are engaging and actually good in their roles. And while it might be a push to say they are all great actors, they have an undeniable charm and it’s easy to get caught up in their story. But beyond their acting abilities, they filmed all their own stunts in the movie. And there are a lot of stunts. Things are obviously filmed very cleverly so that stunts that look dangerous almost definitely aren’t but lets not take anything away from the young actors. There is lots to do in this movie. Whether it’s swimming big waves, clinging on to a surfboard, being surrounded by sea lions or jumping from rocks. It all looks great too. There is some CGI used but it absolutely works and doesn’t take away from the real things that are happening on screen.

Having a young cast makes the situations they find themselves in much more tense and I can only imagine what a younger viewer would think of some of the scenes. It’s a perfect gateway action film because the situations they are in would feel especially dangerous if you are of a similar age.

The sisters relationship is key to the film too. Seeing them work together, work things out together and saving each other is fantastic to watch.

It’s important to remember this is a family film too because even though some of the scenes might seem like high risk to the average adult viewer (I’d argue otherwise to be honest), to children this will genuinely seem like the characters are in serious danger. And they will be rooting for them to overcome the odds.

There are times when watching Island of Lost Girls that it feels like you’re watching a nature documentary, and that’s not a bad thing at all. The sea lions, and even more so, the elephant seals are incredible-looking creatures. Adding the sisters to the mix and it’s all even more watchable. Using the animals and the, at times, breath-taking caves and lighthouse, means that the film looks great. You can’t fault the cinematography and film-making.

Island of Lost Girls is a true family affair, with the directors, writers and main cast all from the same family and I think it shows. There’s real heart in the making of and the film itself. Not many family films are as thrilling and heart-warming as this one. I hope they continue to make many more!

*** 3/5

Island of Lost Girls screened as part of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.