I'm not sure what to think about Isla Monstro, completed in 2024 but streaming on Amazon Prime in 2026. Other than the bad grammar: it should be Isla de los Monstruos.
It has a weird animations style. The people are cut-outs drawn in different styles, in a two-dimensional space. It's like playing with paper dolls from different collections. The buffed guy is "walking past" protagonist Duke (creator and writer James Schrader).
The story: After trying and failing at every job, Duke ends up an island in the Bermuda Triangle where the U.S. government was conducting genetic experiments, trying to create super-soldiers. Instead, they created monsters, so the government pulled out, abandoning over 100 test subjects (who haven't aged).
The main group, from left to right:
Reggie, who is gay.
Dyanna, who didn't transmutate.
Duke
Sam (Harland Williams), Duke's rescuer and best friend.
Left: Harland Williams.
More after the break
And the rest.
The residents still have the technology and pop culture of the 1980s, since they have no way of contacting the outside world. Until now -- Duke has a cell phone with him. He has the idea of turning the island into Isla Monstro, a high-class resort, with the monsters as the staff.
The monsters haven't seen anyone new for 40 years, so they agree.
Two problems: Duke owes $100,000 to a gangster named El Feo (Will Friedle of Boy Meets World), who sends his henchman to the island to assassinate him.
And the army was supposed to kill everyone and blow up the island, to ensure that no one finds out about the experiments. They swarm in to do it now.
Not to worry, Duke and the Monsters are triumphant.
The gay guy (James Marsters, top photo) doesn't do much but tell his story: he was caught with a dud back when gay people weren't allowed to serve in the army, and given a choice of court-martial or signing up for the genetic experiments. He complains that he hasn't gotten any action in years. Apparently there are no other gay male monsters on the island, or they aren't his type.
I'm actually more interested in the gay-subtext buddy bond between Sam and Duke.
Sam doesn't display any heterosexual interest. Duke makes a few references, but he doesn't end up with The Girl. That's remarkable, since we assume that she didn't become a monster specifically to act as his Love Interest. They don't even flirt.
There is a heterosexual romance scene, between two of the monsters. I'll let you figure out whether that's his tail or something else.
There is a heterosexual romance scene, between two of the monsters. I'll let you figure out whether that's his tail or something else.
See also: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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