So much average

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Blistering performances.

Wanting to rid themselves of the babies, the decision to import the mutants to an uninhabited island leads to a later expedition to study the creatures which shows that they're attempting to get back to the mainland to continue their line and must prevent them from doing so.This was the best of the series but is still somewhat of an issue. Among the more enjoyable elements found here is the opening manner of what to do with the creatures in society which is a unique take. The exploits of the courtroom trial, which has some nice work in the ability to showcase how friendly they can be and the overall outcome of the verdict, start this off on a nice note while setting up what's going to occur with the later half. The concept of the tropical island where they're being stored away from humanity gives this a solid and nicely appealing storyline involving the continuation of the themes and ideas from the previous films coming together into the fine series of attacks shown in the final half. From the scenes of the expedition members getting wiped out to the carnage shown onboard the boat with the dead bodies and the search for the creatures back on the mainline, these here are what make this one somewhat fun. Along with the nice gore in the few kills we do get to see, these here are enough to hold this one up over its many flaws. Like the past films in the series, this one is mostly hurt by the fact that so much of this one is just not that interesting to sit through. The creatures are given the motive of wanting to return to civilization in order to seek out the mother of their conception which should be quite a fun concept to go through but instead, there's just no sympathy given for this kind of storyline here. It's just quite impossible to get into why this should matter with how this plays out and the film just never makes it over into that realm here due to the inherent stupidity of everyone in the film. The idea of a secret mission to the island without any kind of backup with a rinky-dink sort of operation and background just seems moronic, the way it carries out is quite appropriate and the whole affair is just so hum-drum that it doesn't really make any impact. As well, there's also the lame special effects here with the shoddy-looking creature suits substituting for the few shots they get on-screen as they are mostly just shown flashes of arms, claws or fangs or just done in their point-of-view so it leaves quite a distasteful feeling. Overall, these here are what hold this one down.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language and an attempted Rape.

Larry Cohen returns after nearly a decade to finish off his mutant baby trilogy with mixed results. Stephen Jarvis (Michael Moriarty) battles in court for the rights of the mutant baby he had with his wife Ellen (Karen Black). The sympathetic judge orders all of the babies to be placed on an island. 5 years later, a scientific team gets together to visit the island and check the progress. Naturally, Jarvis is brought along because of his ability to communicate with the mutants.Cohen certainly has tons of ideas with this one. This is a court room drama, KING KONG adventure, and urban chase thriller all in one. Heck, he even throws in an out of nowhere tangent where Jarvis ends up in Cuba. I would say maybe 50% of the ideas work, with the island stuff (shot in beautiful Hawaii) being the highlight. Cohen is also betrayed by the FX for the grown mutants, which look like the babies on steroids. Moriarty also gives quite a performance as the sarcastic Jarvis. There is a great cast alongside Moriarty and Black including Gerrit Graham, Laurene Landon, and director Neal Israel. Also, Cohen regular James Dixon returns in his biggest role to date as Lt. Perkins, the only character to appear in all three films (outside of the killer kids).

Starring: Michael Moriarty and Karen Black.A TV actor is plagued with a mutant baby that he wants to live. The mutant babies are sent to an uninhibited island. 5 years later the washed up actor is a shoe salesman because no one will hire him, and he decides to find his baby, and make a trip to the island. Once on the island, he learns that the babies have grown up, and the baby wants to meet it's mother (a waitress played by Karen Black). Before the trip to the island this film is quite entertaining, and once on the island it becomes extremely stupid. I was entertained enough through the movie, but it gets stupider than any of the other films. It seems as though the gore and language were amped up a level. Overall it was stupid, but it's entertainment value made it on the same level as the other 2 films.My rating: ** out of ****. 94 mins. R for Language, Violence, and some Sex.

An island of mutant babies! Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, in Larry Cohen's hands, it's more amusing than great, although the island setting is quite evocative. The real pity once again is Cohen's direction. Is the guy making a black comedy or a serious horror pic? I don't think he's sure. He's definitely taking every opportunity to lather in his trademark social commentary, and I don't have a problem with that, but he abuses his own premise here with sheer silliness.The babies look like Garbage Pail Kids crossed with Party Beach monsters. They're big and they're greasy and they wear hand-me-down rags that don't fit. They still kill and they're still sympathetic tragics, but they've lost their mystery, their awe.It's a shame the great artwork didn't reflect the movie.