Created by Jonathan Glassner Running time 95 minutes | Developed by Jonathan Glassner Original network PTEN | |
Starring Kevin Conroy
Brenda Strong
Eric McCormack
Constance Marie Executive producer(s) Jonathan Glassner
Bruce J. Sallan | ||
Island City is a science fiction television pilot movie that was aired by Prime Time Entertainment Network in 1994. The film was produced by Lee Rich Productions in association with Lorimar Television.
In the future, humanity develops a "fountain of youth" drug, but as many people around the world begin to take it, most begin to mutate into a barbaric proto-humanoid state. The few people immune to this side-effect of the drug band together and live in a futuristic city while the mutants live in the vast wasteland outside its gates. In an effort to save the human race and understand what went wrong, the city sends out research missions in fortified vehicles to bring back mutated humans for research, and to rescue healthy humans. The film focuses on one such squad of soldiers and scientists.
During one of their missions into the wasteland, the team comes under attack and one of their own is captured by the mutants. The rest of the movie, which was meant to serve as an introductory episode of the series, deals with the main characters coping with the loss of their friend and organizing a search-and-rescue mission, while secondary characters allow the viewer to explore the various facets of life in their city.
The movie touched on many themes including genetic experimentation, virtual reality, and state-controlled marriages. Citizens of the city wore a colored crystal on their sternum and could only mate with other citizens of the same color, which was based on the individual's genetic makeup. Progeny that resulted from breeding outside of your prescribed color would have the genetic mutation that, when combined with the "fountain of youth" drug, created the race of proto-humanoids.
Another plot line focused on the morality of a "fountain of youth" drug. One of the lead female roles was married to a man who did not take the drug because he believed it immoral. The husband was aging normally into his 60s or 70s while his wife remained in her mid 30s.
Some of the technology featured included virtual reality goggles. The son of the missing soldier uses the goggles to spend time fishing with his father, as well as attempting to fulfill his sexual fantasies, but is foiled in the later when a parental block prevents his fantasy girl from removing her top.
Due to low ratings and the high costs associated with producing a sci-fi television show, no other episodes were filmed.