Director and writer Mike Wiluan brings Southeast Asian folklore to life in Monster Island (original title: Orang Ikan), a 2025 creature-feature set during World War II. Inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon, the film blends historical tension with mythological horror. It follows a Japanese soldier and a British prisoner of war stranded on a remote Pacific island in 1942. Forced to cooperate, the two enemies must survive against a terrifying sea creature from ancient legend.
The movie will premiere on July 25, 2025, on Shudder and Netflix Southeast Asia, and it stars Dean Fujioka, Callum Woodhouse, and a terrifying creature crafted by renowned Hollywood special effects artist Allan Holt.
Where Was Monster Island Filmed?
Filming for Monster Island took place entirely in Indonesia in 2023, a country well known for its natural diversity and mystical landscapes. From sound stages in Batam to jungle-covered terrain in Java, the crew explored multiple regions to create the haunting atmosphere of a deserted Pacific island.
1. Batam, Indonesia (Infinite Studios)
At Infinite Studios in Batam, Indonesia—a big part of the movie was shot. People often choose this studio as one of the best places to make films in—Southeast Asia because it has controlled environments and easy access to tropical areas. The studio provided the base for many of the creature effects, interior jungle sets, and water-based scenes. According to posts shared by the cast and crew in October 2023, this is where the “movie magic” came alive under the direction of Mike Wiluan.
Batam’s strategic location near Singapore also made it ideal for both international and local talent to work comfortably while achieving a high production quality.
2. Java, Indonesia – Natural Locations in Sukabumi, West Java
The production moved to Sukabumi, which is in West Java, for scenes that took place outside, such as shots in dense jungles and on remote islands. This area is known for its pristine rivers, rainforests, and coastlines, which made it easy to create the remote and dangerous world shown in the movie.
Dean Fujioka wrote about his time filming in Indonesia on social media, saying that it was hard on the body but worth it, and he praised the crew’s hard work. The choice of—Sukabumi made the movie’s island setting in the 1940s seem more real, which added to the mood of survival and suspense.
3. Additional Java Locations
Even though Sukabumi was a key outdoor location—other scenes were also filmed in Java’s surrounding areas. Posts from cast members in late 2023 and early 2024 suggest that they did a lot of work in a lot of different natural settings, which was important for keeping the movie’s sense of isolation and raw danger.
Behind the Creature
One amazing things about Monster Island is the creature that the movie is named after. It was created by Allan Holt, who is a famous name in Hollywood practical effects. Instead of using a lot of digital effects, the team used a real creature suit that was filmed in real life to make it seem more real. This choice also fit with the movie’s 1940s style, which mixed old-fashioned filmmaking methods with more modern storylines.
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