Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island - Movie Review

Chris Stuckmann reviews Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, starring Scott Innes, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, Frank Welker, B.J. Ward, Adrienne Barbeau, Tara Strong, Cam Clarke, Jim Cummings, Mark Hamill. Directed by Jim Stenstrum.

[@tayloredwards4968]

By far the best Scooby-Doo movie

[@chasehedges6775]

A childhood classic

[@justinjones2601]

The Witch’s Ghost would like a word

[@chasehedges6775]

@@justinjones2601 Both of them are great, tbh

[@Nicholasmcmath-cr1xl]

Same

[@TVChild3]

@@justinjones2601Zombie Island still wins in my opinion. It was so surprising, simply for being the first (of the straight to video movies). Witch’s Ghost was a lot less frightening in my opinion.

[@alexandru5369]

"It's terror time again" is an insanely underrated song. Skycycle didn't need too go that hard but I'm glad they did

[@ILik3PH0T0]

My girlfriend and I just randomly start singing this from time to time.

[@Sephiroth1204]

I used to rewatch the movie just for that song

[@shadowleon659]

Fun Fact: This film was cannibalised from an unmade episode of Swat Kats The Radical Squadron called Succubus. Which also became The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest episode called Eclipse.

[@alexandru5369]

So move was based off two excellent 90's cartoons ? Makes sense as too why it was so good@@shadowleon659

[@DonoTheGamer]

This was my favorite animated Scooby-Doo movie as a kid. I would watch it regularly. Great memories.

[@elijaharroyo4846]

It’s Terror Time again!

[@Shoobs3D]

@@elijaharroyo4846 They got you running through the night

[@corndog4848]

It’s up there for me, I always loved Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase. Tons of different settings, meeting the alternate gang, all the old villains, etc.

[@jderrickson4597]

Mine too! 👍

[@MellowMutant]

same

[@TVChild3]

This is still the best Scooby-Doo anything that was ever made. These characters wouldn’t have gotten the resurgence they did without this movie.

[@smathews731]

If I'm not mistaken, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island was the first new Scooby content in 8 or 9 years

[@TVChild3]

@@smathews731 yeah, I think A pup named Scooby Doo was the last Scooby Doo media before they decided to make this.

[@nikhily2993]

Scooby-doo Mystery Incorporated would like to have a word with you

[@TVChild3]

@@nikhily2993 i love Mystery Incorporated ! But I still like this one more. Mystery incorporated is awesome only if you watch all of it because the complex overarching plot is what’s good about it. Individual episodes, outside of the plot driven ones, are good, but I wouldn’t watch them over this movie. But that’s just my opinion.

[@RyansChannel0203]

Alien Invaders would say otherwise.

[@Dullfang2]

Scooby Doo and the witch's ghost was pretty legendary too. Hex girls, hilarious moments, scary final battle, and though no one died you can argue the fate of the villains is actually more disturbing than dying

[@adamsanders2270]

So true! It was my favorite growing up. The Americana produces so much nostalgia and the setting made me love Autumn!

[@ZachBobBob]

Hex girls are the whole entire reason why im into the women im into

[@fabersoul]

This movie is a gem in my childhood. It’s so good! It freaked me the hell out as a kid

[@anubusx]

Sleepwalkers.

[@xaybeast522]

So many movies like this definitely are responsible for getting me into the horror genre. It was the genuinely creepy imagery in movies like this and Monster House that bridged the gap for me between family friendly entertainment and genuinely creepy stuff. So happy to see Chris talking about it.

[@AlasdairGR]

Witch's Ghost and Zombie Island are timeless Halloween gems.

[@TheLovelypecan]

I love Witch’s Ghost!

[@SrMechaGojira93]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@ladybugradio1988]

True classics in my book which make them my favorite films from the "Scooby Doo" franchise because as I started watching the movie I was blown away with the performances and usually I'd get jumpy when it comes to live action horror films but as it comes to movies like this one I never had to worry about certain villains trying to get me.

[@DisneyFan16672]

By far, I can confidently say that "Scooby Doo on Zombie Island" is the best Mystery Inc. film ever made. Everything from the story, the animation, the soundtrack, and overall concept are executed to near perfection while still maintaining the feel of classic Scooby Doo. Fun Fact: Originally this concept was envisioned as a film for the "Swat Kats" animated TV series but when plans for that fell through, the creative team recycled the idea and fit it into the Scooby Doo universe. The direct to video Scooby Doo films of this era which include "Zombie Island", "The Witch's Ghost", "Alien Invaders", and "Cyber Chase" all were much more daring and inventive with their stories, villains, and overall concepts and the creative teams took them to their utmost advantage. To kids who grew up with these films in the late 90's and early 00's, these films are highly nostalgic and were wonderful gateway horror films as a kid. :)

[@DefyLov3]

Scooby doo and the Loch Ness monster?!?!

[@ElricZ]

The aliens one creeped me as a kid. Loved it tho

[@RyansChannel0203]

Alien Invaders is much better IMO, but Zombie Island is great too.

[@JannieJubilee]

Thank you 😊 For this Swat Katz/ Scooby Doo fan that really was a fun fact.

[@shadowleon659]

It also became an episode of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest called Eclipse.

[@vidk1dd96]

Still holds up today as it did when it premiered on Cartoon Network. Zombie Island was the peak of Scooby Doo's greatest era from the 90s and early 2000s. It was a great time being a kid seeing all of this.

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

As a Louisiana native, this movie has a special place in my heart. First time I watched this was on VHS (who knew it would be the first of many Scooby Doo direct-to-video releases) and also it had a preview for what would become my favorite cartoon of alltime. Ed, Edd n Eddy.

[@patriciaa65]

Same!!!

[@kimberlytomlinson9464]

I love this movie dearly! I remember begging to leave a friend's birthday party so I would not miss the premiere on cable tv. Things like that just don't happen anymore. And the songs on the soundtrack were great.

[@bmav007]

I bought this one for my kids and all these years later it still slaps 🔥

[@MellowMutant]

hell yeah

[@DubExp]

Two things a lot of us remember about the movie. "This time the monsters are real." And 🎶Terrrooor time again!

[@thebutterstick8659]

My parents were kinda strict with Halloween/monster stuff when my sister and I were younger. They didn’t let us celebrate Halloween or watch anything spooky. The only exception my sister and I had was Scooby Doo, because the monsters were fake. We were both obsessed with Scooby Doo. My parents bought us this dvd one day and my sister and I loved it, but once they found out that the monsters were real in this film they took the dvd away from us. So my sister and I had to secretly watch this without them knowing.

[@RetroDeathReviews666]

The struggle of growing up with religious parents lmao. Always hated it.

[@fazewick8729]

This movie made me obsessed with eating Gumbo as a child lol. The movie just made it look so good 😂

[@Neat0_o]

And the peppers looked so good too 😂 😅

[@alexandru5369]

So true though gumbo is great so right on the movie for that

[@bigsam653]

And those biscuits sounded delicious

[@Marvellite]

This movie scared the hell out of me as a kid and yet I kept going back to rewatch it. That shows how good it was

[@xxkori123xx]

My nephew is way into Scooby Doo but he's only 4 and he was begging to watch this one this year. He's scene most of the other movies but they're not that bad. My sister thought it'd be way too scary for him but he was all for it. He got a little spooked with the werecats but once it was over he said he wanted to watch it again. Made me proud as an aunt and I can't wait to show him other movies when he gets older.

[@TheCommenterDragon]

It goes without saying that Zombie Island is one of if not THE greatest Scooby Doo movie of all time! Just as "It's Terror Time Again" is one of the most iconic Scooby Doo songs! Fun fact: Back when this movie was still in production, The casting directors thought about replacing Frank Welker as the voice of Fred. Because at the time for some reason they thought that Frank's Fred voice wasn't as good as it usually is, But boy did Frank prove wrong in fact I can't believe that they would ever even think that. Because out of all the voices that Frank Welker has done over the years, His Fred voice is the one that he's managed to maintain most of all. Even todayy Mr. Welker still hasn't lost it when it comes to voicing that particular character.

[@xSOCxGenesis]

Oh man that Cartoon Theater intro, what a pure slap to the nostalgia vein. I remember that exact preview wayyyy back in the day it hyped me so much for so many movies on TV back then. And thanks so much for that channel recommendation for the bumpers in 4k, that's awesome! I love the preservation of anything small that gets so easily lost to time but is so telling of the culture of the time period.

[@TarnishedGB]

Had this on vhs and watched it all the time even though some parts scared the hell out of me. You brought back so many memories and nostalgia.

[@yrs6086]

I remember watching it on a winter's afternoon on cartoon network. And as soon as they reach the island I knew this was going to be different from most of their other episodes which I actually used to enjoyed. But I found myself genuinly creeped out in some parts. Great memories. Adventure genre in general has taken a hit in recent years and I wish someone would try and reinvent or atleast reignite this dying genre. I truely believe it has power to inspire and kindle imagination in young ones. It has more impact on a kid's mind than any other genre.

[@chasehedges6775]

One of the best Scooby Doo movies ever made as well as one of the darkest

[@MellowMutant]

facts

[@HudsonMedia]

I absolutely adored this film as a kid! It’s so scary but I adore it 😭 I wish cartoons would do stuff like this again. I miss it so much.

[@breeannvosberg9627]

This continues to surprise me even all these years later with how well thought out this was in regards to the characters and how interesting the mystery was in the movie.

[@kareningram6093]

Chris, you've been killing it this year (no pun intended) with the Halloween Special. I love the fact that you've been visiting old movies from childhood and talking about why they are special to you on a personal level. Some of these movies are ones that I haven't seen since I was a kid and basically forgot about, so it's been really cool to be reminded of them and have a fresh perspective. Plus, it's just been cool to learn more about you.

[@RoseShell91]

You adding that Cartoon Network commercial in this video made me the happiest I’ve felt all week! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Chris!

[@Vote4Holt1]

Scooby Doo Zombie Island and Witch’s Ghost are two of my favorites movies of all time. They’re still masterpieces today.

[@purpleheart3000]

I can never pick which of those two is better. Zombie island has the "they're really real!" factor and Terror Time, but Witch's Ghost has THE Tim Curry and the Hex Girls. It's nice that we got such good films that it's hard to pick favorites!

[@mycahjofficial]

*Easily the best Scooby Doo movie by a country mile. Even though there have been a lot of great ones, this was the cream of the crop of the Scooby Doo franchise.*

[@chasehedges6775]

10/10 movie

[@curtis25920]

Watching this as a kid was probably the first time I felt the true power of storytelling. This movie will forever have a special place in my heart.

[@collinmartin2566]

Duuuuude so glad you’ve finally reviewed this movie, legit was a huge part of my childhood

[@MellowMutant]

same

[@adamsanders2270]

The movie that kicked off the Scooby Doo revival! So awesome! - Nostlagic Americana that highlights one of the interesting cultures from around the country. - Genuine Horror Aesthetic that creates a unique atmosphere that isn’t common in the series. - a truly interesting take on the character’s personalities and personal motivations. - a movie that keeps the original greatness of its namesake while delivering something truly unique and fresh. A classic in every sense of the word!

[@AceChampElite]

I really love that whole era of Scooby Doo movies where the monsters are actually real. Zombie Island Witches Ghost Alien Invaders Cyber Chase

[@Mads97415]

I’ve noticed with the Scooby doo movies, the monsters are usually real, but then they aren’t in the show. I think that’s an interesting thing they’ve done. Also loved the review Chris! One of the few “scary” movies from my childhood that I remeber loving and jot being to freaked out by😂

[@yowatchie]

They never made a Scooby-Doo movie like this one again (although the other 3 from this series were also phenomenal). Great choice for the Halloween special Chris.

[@TheCeraization]

Yeah, that’s because they were told to tone down the next 3 movies since Zombie Island did take some serious risks. Still, that’s what makes it a classic.

[@christianjalexander]

Oh my God yes this movie is my childhood!!! I remember getting it from Blockbuster, even though I'm almost too young for that!

[@isaacmapes]

Hands down the best Scooby Doo movie. A few years ago, some college friends and I watched the movie in one of our dorm rooms.

[@RyansChannel0203]

Alien Invaders would say otherwise.

[@MellowMutant]

facts

[@michaeljames6236]

You’ve literally reviewed 2 of my favourite movies in the last 2 days haha - what lies beneath and zombie island 😍

[@MellowMutant]

nicee

[@sydneylynskey7587]

I remember watching this moive as a little kid and liking the fact that it kind of scared me. For some reason being a kid and mangeing to sit through a whole "scary" movie just felt like such an accomplishment.

[@t1ydot]

The pepper challenge scene was one the best scenes of the movie lol

[@zachcouch8654]

I love the fact that Chris made a moment out of it with the cereal and back yard projector

[@hunterhiggins8615]

Dude your unending love for late 90s/early 2000s Cartoon Network products gets me in the nostalgia feels every single time! These were the best moments of my LIFE lol glad someone else loved Cartoon Network as much as I did growing up 🤝🏻

[@laswastedyouth]

You are a strong and inspiring man Chris. To do what you love despite all you’ve been through. It’s hard enough to be any kind of artist in our culture, but to be brought up to think there is something inherently wrong with your tastes and to do it anyway. That’s just amazing!!

[@Clang2023]

This and Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase were my childhood. Quality movies.

[@MellowMutant]

I agree

[@kitcat9245]

Scooby do cyber chase was always my favorite as a kid. I loved the older generation meeting up with the newe generation as my parents let us watch all the old tv shows from the 70s as well as the 90s and 2000s ones. My sisters and I would always select what characters we would be from the shows we watched and divy up the cast. When cyber chase came out, it allowed us to be the “old Daphne / new Daphne” and “old Scooby / new Scooby” when we would just argue about them before lol. It was always exciting as kid to get to see the familiar cast in new clothes which is something the Scooby soo episodes played with a lot. That’s another reason I loved zombie island :)

[@ETibbs11]

Still unironically one of my favorite childhood movies, period. This and Witch's Ghost. Scooby Doo movies had that nice era there where they were super good!

[@Jhudorisa]

I don't know about anyone else, but the scene where the settlers are driven into the swamp by the pirates is all the more horrifying as an adult. Because as a kid I couldn't fully grasp what happened, but now I can.

[@samgott8689]

I LOVED this movie. That zombie montage with the 90’s era Misfits sounding song, “Terror Time Again” was just what 13 year old me wanted!

[@TheOnlyJuann]

So glad you got to re-watch and review this amazing classic, Chris! This type of review, especially during your already fantastic Halloween series is just another example of how you transcend the role of "KZbin (Film/Television) Reviewer". Absolutely top notch and spot-on review of the movie as always. Gotta love that nostalgic intro clip from CT Network too. Happy Halloween!

[@devoncelis9613]

This was my favorite movie as a kid. I still watched it every year and I introduced it to my husband.

[@MellowMutant]

very cool, big part of my childhood too

[@LibrePapillionJaune]

My favorite Scooby Doo movie growing up. I introd. To my Mom a few months ago. She grew up a huge Scooby Doo fan and she thought it was terrifying.

[@Macapta]

That CN Promo took me back to childhood for a moment. That audio compression unmatched.

[@dmitrihoule7866]

This is a review that I did NOT expect to see but so happy I did! I loved Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island as a kid and I still love it now. Thank you Chris!

[@delix787]

Literally, the best Scooby Doo movie ever and the animation is so goddamn clean. 🤯💙🖤

[@xoeyg3084]

My fear of Zombies started with this movie an absolute gem 💎 so glad others have seen it!

[@xoeyg3084]

@LvnOfBrwd-TIME-D-CLOCK-TksFstr I was about 4 when I watched this movie...that fact did not stop my childhood fear...I was also scared of the wearcats too...gees they were horrifying

[@MissElora]

Love how dark this movie is Simone and Lena had a sad backstory you can probably say them killing Morgan Moonscar and his pirate crew was justifiable but their actions afterwards makes them evil as they had pleasure luring victims to their island and kill them draining their souls and them returning back to life to try and stop potential victims is obviously a side effect of the curse.

[@barelycrazy4460]

I was just listening to the It's Terror Time Again song, from this movie, and then I see you have a review for the movie itself. Impeccable timing.

[@TheJRP2010]

The best Scooby movie and that Cartoon Theater bumper gave me a nostalgia overload! Lol

[@CommanderDankeyKang]

Bless you for covering this amazing film. It’s one of my all time favs!

[@Dj1DurBreD]

That opening bit with the cartoon network ad reminded me of watching this with my brother at my grandparents' house. Theyre gone now and I hadnt thought about this movie or that memory in a long time. Thanks man, ive really enjoyed your channel over the years.

[@jonwalsh370]

I’m really glad you posted this. I’ve been rewatching a lot of these Scooby Doo movies from the late 90s and early 00s, and while they’re all fun, Zombie Island is legitimately a horror film. Given it’s a lighthearted but it is still a scary movie. Even more, this was an era where cartoons were aimed at kids and because of that they got away with being dark. I’d love to see more Scooby- Doo movies like this and I’m glad to see that so many people remember it as fondly as I do

[@omgerrrick5344]

My new generation 9 year old daughter can confirm these are the best: Zombie Island, Alien Invaders, and The Reluctant Wolf

[@chuckjammy9251]

The Scooby-Doo franchise was absolutely cooking in the late ‘90s-early ‘00s. Started with Zombie Island ‘98, then Witch’s Ghost ‘99, The Scooby-Doo Project ‘99(Blair Witch spoof), Alien Invaders ‘00, Night of the Living Doo ‘01, live action Scooby-Doo ‘02, the Shaggy Busted episode of Harvey Birdman Attorney At law ‘02, & finally What’s New Scooby-Doo? ‘02. This period was the peak of the franchise

[@C.Dat.guyoverthere]

Wow, what a throwback with the Cartoon Theater. Still hands down the best Scooby-Doo movie of all time.

[@beccafy2529]

The reason for the good animation is because this is technically an anime! It was made by Mook Animation and directed by Hiroshi Aoyama and Kazumi Fukushima. Probably why there was some more adult themes/scares!

[@Alex-cw3rz]

When I was young I I would watch it on VHS all the time even though the zombies were really scary

[@kjo2130]

One of the most underrated animated films of all time. I remember watching this on Cartoon Network so many times. Take me back man.

[@austinmay4526]

Definitely the best song in any Scooby-Doo film/episode as well, I still listen to it to this day! It's Terror Time Again By Skycycle

[@knucklesty]

Love this movie, easily my fav Scooby-Doo movie of all time 🥰 Never thought I'd see Chris do another Scooby review after his Scoob! review 😅

[@MellowMutant]

It's my favorite Scooby Doo movie too

[@sean_mccadden]

As someone who grew up as a JW also, I used the "they're just guys in suits" excuse also 😂. It worked with my mom but not my dad.

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

As soon as you said something about Shaggy finding contraband I had to laugh with my best Shaggy-impression, imagining how I'd make that scene play out.

[@strathdragon1]

Heck yeah! My favorite reviewer and my favorite Scooby-Doo movie. This is a good Saturday! 🎉

[@EnochTD]

This Movie freaked me out as a kid ... Just like that green cursed mask episode from Goosebumps.. Thanks for talking about this movie!

[@HalfHearted]

This shit was my childhood, I watched it all the time when I was a kid, so excited when this came out. True Peak Scooby Doo

[@aaryamannambiar6677]

Chris, I thought I loved you before when you expressed your love for my favorite movies and Dragon Ball Z, but now you go and review an animated Scooby Doo movie!!?? I friggin love you even more now!!!!!

[@antirealist]

"Double Double Joint" from Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase is an absolute banger - it slaps, it's a bop, it goes too hard...all of it.

[@jz-meister5343]

I am 31 years old, and I have loved Scooby-Doo for as long as I can remember. This movie is one of my favorite movies. Not just favorite Scooby movie but favorite movie in general. I have probably seen it more times than I can count, but it is always such a joy to sit down and rewatch it :)

[@itzyaboybugz]

I remember watching this as a kid after trick or treating in late 90’s. It was the premiere on Cartoon Network. This is the best cartoon Scooby flick hands down

[@jbearclowater]

The songs in this have no business being as good as they are. "It's Terror Time Again" is an absolute banger.

[@Indiana_Minotaur]

This movie was the most ambitious cartoon movie ever done. No one expected to go the mile it did. As some might suspected from the first moment the gang arrived on the island plantation it might be as simple as "one, two, three" but when that first zombie appeared it became quickly apparent that it wasn't simple as "one, two, three" but rather "one, two, ten"

[@Hakbushicomics]

I liked the scooby doo movie with the hex girls more. Their songs have been stuck in my head for years. "Hex girls and we're gonna put a spell on you"

[@talesfromthetrip]

This and The Witch’s Ghost are the best pieces of Scooby Doo media

[@lildigipoke]

It's Terror Time Again is a masterpiece of a song. What a perfect composition for this incredible movie!

[@alextownley9388]

“YOU’RE A COUPLE OF GORGONZOLA’S!!! 🤣 Best fucking line

[@panqueque445]

I was never a super Scooby Doo fan, but I did watch the show. Like you said, it's always some guy in a suit. So when they try to unmask that zombie and the head pops off I went "Oh shit, this is real". Such a cool movie.

[@ShunsuiHitsugaya]

Zombie Island was definitely one of my favorite entries in the Scooby Doo franchise.

[@paulanaya2503]

Showed this to my daughter about 4 years about, she was 5, and she loved it but was VERY afraid and putting on a brave face. I can't wait to watch it again this year now that she's older

[@kboy1158]

Still one of the best and darkest scooby doo movie to watch every halloween.

[@mortalbumblebeecat3957]

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is one of the best Scooby-Doo movies of all-time and it's one of my all-time favorites.

[@joshfactor1]

Dude, seriously, this was such a monumental moment for the franchise

[@alltheinnocence]

When I was little, my older sister and I were obsessed with Scooby-Doo. They would release VHS tapes with 4 episodes of Where Are You on them that we would collect. The Christmas after I turned 5, our entire Christmas was Scooby-Doo themed. We got scooby snacks, pajamas, toys and the tape of this movie. We watched it in our new pajamas while eating scooby snacks. It's one of my strongest childhood memories of Christmas. For that reason, this movie will always hold a special place for me

[@speed_bump5]

This one, Loch Ness Monster, Where’s my Mummy, and especially Cyber Chase were my favorite animated Scooby-Doo films

[@vokxessstrife8758]

I am so happy someone speaks on this movie more...it is a hidden gem

[@AS-is4dt]

far from a hidden gem lol but good movie

[@vokxessstrife8758]

@@AS-is4dt where I live not a lot of people my age know about it so its nice seeing it was a part of others childhood aswell

[@schizoidboy]

There's a lot of good points in this one. The comment about the art in it reminded me of the older Scooby-Doo episodes which had great atmosphere and to be honest were a lot more scary. The cartoons from the 1969-1979 period were scarier, as a kid some of these monsters/ghosts could be scary, but in a twisted sense it also made the humor better at times as well. Off the topic I got a kick out of Shaggy and Scooby being customs inspectors. I know people call them security, but security doesn't handle contraband. Customs is actually law enforcement, and customs does use K9 units to find contraband, and they're also trained at FLETC as law enforcement officers. So technically Shaggy and Scooby were law enforcement officers. Their big mistake was eating contraband instead of disposing it in the proper manner called the "muffin-maker" which disposes contraband food. (They also got to look for parasites in the food they find to prevent it from contaminating food in our country.)

[@Manthathasspiderlikepowers]

This and cyber chase will always hold a special place in my heart

[@benjamintillema3572]

5:54 Puss In Boots The Last Wish: "We sure did a LOT of *murdering* to get this map"

[@DanielBasham]

The food scened in Zombie Island makes this movie great

[@shrimpydads]

Seeing the Cartoon Theatre shot was something I didn’t know I missed or needed. Hell yeah Scooby Doo

[@dhbomb]

The flashback scene where the people get eaten by the alligators in the lake actually traumatized me as a kid

[@gustavogirotto]

I always loved the voodoo elements in this cartoon. They went toe to toe with my temple of doom darkness fix, when growing up.