10 Movie Documentaries Better Than The Actual Movie

1996's The Island of Dr. Moreau is one of the most infamous "troubled productions" in Hollywood history, an ambitious attempt to adapt H.G. Wells' 1896 novel with a $40 million budget and an all-star cast led by Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando.

By all accounts, the shoot was an utter s**tshow, with original director Richard Stanley ultimately being fired mere days into shooting by a studio frustrated by the lack of progress.

But even after veteran filmmaker John Frankenheimer was brought in to right the ship, the project was beset by an impetuous Val Kilmer and a typically "difficult" Marlon Brando, while the studio feared Stanley would attempt to sabotage the production.

This is all covered in David Gregory's outrageously entertaining documentary, which catches up with Stanley to explore his experiences attempting to get the film made.

There isn't a dull minute in the doc as a result - as is more than can be said for the Dr. Moreau film itself - with Stanley proving an effortlessly likeable focal subject.

Thankfully Stanley finally landed back on his feet recently, with his Nicolas Cage-starring Lovecraft adaptation Color Out of Space receiving warmly positive reviews.