Written by Mr. Mouseburger 8th Apr 2006

Kindly submitted by Kooshmeister

Halsey has the most disappointing death in what is otherwise a surprisingly well-done film, as far as death scenes go (despite the fact the fact they all occur off-screen). Introduced during the sequence wherein the islanders, under the direction of Doctors David West and Brian Stanley, attempt to destroy the Silicates using guns, dynamite and petrol bombs, Halsey is the requisite coward of the story.

His demise is telegraphed a mile away when it is revealed how much of a spineless (excuse the pun) coward he is, and despite its originality in many other areas, Island of Terror apparently could not resist throwing in the cliché of the coward-getting-exactly-what-he-deserves.

Halsey's death comes during the siege of the meeting hall by the Silicates. Prior to this, Halsey, having seen his friend Morton (q.v.) die a terrible death, attempts to entice his neighbours to try swimming for the mainland. Roger Campbell puts a stop to this nonsense, though, by threatening to toss Halsey out with the monsters if he does not keep his trap shut (reminiscent of what Ben will say to Harry Cooper two years later in 1968's Night of the Living Dead).

As the Silicates surround the building, their deafening, unearthly electronic echo noise results in Halsey covering his ears, and in doing so, he fails to hear Campbell's orders to keep away from the unbarricaded windows. To prove Campbell’s advice correct, Halsey does back up against one of these windows, and sure enough, soon tentacles smash through the glass and seize Halsey and reel him in, where he receives the most unwelcome attention of three Silicates, which kill him.

Luckily, the remainder of the film is good. Halsey, though, is a clichéd character who dies a clichéd death. Oh well.