Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Island of the Hungry Ghosts

Play trailer Poster for Island of the Hungry Ghosts 2018 1h 38m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
During an annual crab migration on Christmas Island, locals perform rituals and a therapist works in the island's asylum seeking detention center.

Where to Watch

Island of the Hungry Ghosts

Island of the Hungry Ghosts

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A potent unraveling of human nature's often skewed sense of justice, Island of Hungry Ghosts is alluringly poetic.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
David Stratton The Australian 03/15/2019
3/5
The film is beautifully photographed by Michael Latham, has an excellent music score by Aaron Cupples, and is never less than intriguing. But Brady's decision to withhold vital information from the viewer is rather self-defeating. Go to Full Review Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter 03/07/2019
Island of the Hungry Ghosts casts an undeniably hypnotic spell. The documentary also serves as an important reminder that the United States is far from alone in mistreating its would-be immigrants. Go to Full Review Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times 03/07/2019
The result is at once acutely distressing and quite lovely, transforming the island into something primitive and inscrutable. Go to Full Review Christopher Llewellyn Reed Hammer to Nail 09/14/2024
It’s a stunning, visceral first feature, announcing the director as a major talent to watch, and watch her movie you should. Go to Full Review Jim Ross TAKE ONE Magazine 02/13/2020
For such an emotive, topical subject it is remarkable the approach ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS not only takes, but succeeds with. Go to Full Review Steven Sheehan The Digital Fix 02/06/2020
7/10
Not only does the title of Brady's documentary sound like the name of a Apichatpong Weerasethakul film, but the eerie, snail-paced camera pans deep inside the jungle also seem to carry the Thai director's influence. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
nefasto r @Nefasto 01/31/2021 Slow paced, but with a clever approach on a delicate and increasingly important theme: immigration. See more Lincoln K @RT85628835 01/21/2020 Interesting documentary about Christmas Island detention center and the asylum seekers held there. However, it didn't really hold my attention and i found myself kindof tuning out on some of this. See more Read all reviews
Island of the Hungry Ghosts

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Gabrielle Brady

Director

Gabrielle Brady

Writer

Gabrielle Brady

Producer

Samm Haillay

Producer

Alex Kelly

Producer

Alexander Wadouh

Producer

More Like This

View All
Skid Row Marathon 100% 100% Skid Row Marathon Watchlist TRAILER for Skid Row Marathon Stateless 88% % Stateless Watchlist Cats of Malta 100% 83% Cats of Malta Watchlist TRAILER for Cats of Malta Los Reyes 100% 62% Los Reyes Watchlist TRAILER for Los Reyes Killing Patient Zero 100% 100% Killing Patient Zero Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Island of the Hungry Ghosts

Island of the Hungry Ghosts (2018) Island of the Hungry Ghosts (2018) Island of the Hungry Ghosts (2018) Island of the Hungry Ghosts (2018) Island of the Hungry Ghosts (2018) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During an annual crab migration on Christmas Island, locals perform rituals and a therapist works in the island's asylum seeking detention center.
Director
Gabrielle Brady
Producer
Gabrielle Brady, Samm Haillay, Alex Kelly, Alexander Wadouh
Screenwriter
Gabrielle Brady
Production Co
Third Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2019
Runtime
1h 38m