The early 1970s B picture "Terminal Island" has an effective premise with which to work. In the "future", the Supreme Court has declared the death penalty unconstitutional. In its place, criminals are now dumped on an island 40 miles off the American coast. Here they're (mostly) left to fend for themselves. The latest arrival is a young woman, Carmen (Ena Hartman),who's just in time to witness an uprising. Some of the convicts are tired of the tyranny of their "leaders" Bobby (Sean Kenney, "The Corpse Grinders") and Monk (Roger E. Mosley, "The Mack"). So a small group splits off from the main group, and plots revolution.

Co-written by James Barnett, producer Charles S. Swartz, and director Stephanie Rothman ("The Velvet Vampire"),"Terminal Island" is pretty good for this kind of exploitation fare. It fulfils its requirements - violence, sex, nudity - adequately, and is simply beautifully shot (by Daniel Lacambre, "Humanoids from the Deep") on some pretty locations. While it naturally has its trashy moments, it never really wallows in unpleasantness, and it does have a sense of humour, to boot. (Watch how the horny character, Dylan (Clyde Ventura, "'Gator Bait") is dealt with.) The story is a little thin, but is also provocative on occasion. (Dr. Milford, played by a young Tom Selleck, was convicted of the mercy killing of a patient.)

The cast is full of then-stars, stars-to-be, and familiar character faces. Also appearing are Don Marshall ("The Thing with Two Heads"),Phyllis Davis ("Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"),Marta Kristen ('Lost in Space'),Barbara Leigh ("Junior Bonner"),Geoffrey Deuel ("Chisum"),James Whitworth (Papa Jupe in Wes Cravens' "The Hills Have Eyes"),Richard Stahl ("Nine to Five"),Sandy Ward ("Cujo"),and Albert Cole ("The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant"). The film gained newfound attention when Selleck and Mosley found later fame on 'Magnum P.I.'. Kenney and Mosley are particularly fun as the antagonists of the piece.

Full of solid squib action and some satisfying explosions, "Terminal Island" is worthy of discovery by devotees of the B pictures of decades past.

Seven out of 10.

The Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty. California created Terminal Island from San Bruno Island to exile the death row inmates. Bobby killed his bank robbery posse. Lee Phillips blew up a bank. A.J. is a cop killer. Bunny Campbell killed her parents with an ice pick. Julian Dylan is a biker. Joy poisoned her husband. Dr. Norman Milford (Tom Selleck) committed a mercy killing. Roy Teale is a serial killer. Carmen is the new inmate sent to Terminal Island. Bobby rules the main camp with an iron fist and Monk (Roger E. Mosley) is his second in command. The women are used as sex slaves.

I wanted to check this out after Selleck mentioned it on a late-night talk show. It's a violent low-budget exploitation T&A B-movie. There is a surprising number of hot babes serving death sentences. It's cheesy bad but it is almost watchable for its badness. The acting is generally weak and the overall filmmaking is poor. Selleck has a full beard. It doesn't keep my interest all the way to the end.

Right, well "Terminal Island" is a movie that is two years older than I am. But of course something like that is not going to keep me from watching a movie. And as I had the opportunity to sit down and watch "Terminal Island" here in 2021, of course I did so.

The concept idea here, as written by James Barnett, Charles S. Swartz and Stephanie Rothman was certainly interesting. However, the transition to the screen made for a lukewarm movie experience. Yeah, the movie was watchable, sure, but this was hardly a hidden cinematic gem that I had been missing out on.

The movie does have signs of being 48 years old, sure, but there are still aspects of "Terminal Island" that are applicable today, and things that does leave you with something to ponder about.

However, from an entertainment viewpoint, then "Terminal Island" just fell short of providing me with a proper movie experience. I just had a difficult time submerging myself into the movie, despite it having a good concept.

The movie did have an okay cast ensemble, I will say that much, with the likes of Tom Selleck and Roger E. Mosley starring here.

My rating of director Stephanie Rothman's 1973 movie lands on a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.