Gaspari: Mosquito Coast

Mosquito Coast (1996) is an interesting film adaptation of the novel by Paul Theroux sharing the same name. In many ways the film is true to the book, but in Mosquito Coast we see a depiction of Allie Fox as an eccentric man who loses his grip on reality. On top of this we also see a clear narrative that exposes the detrimental effects of imperialism. The Allie Fox and Reverend Spellgood are representations of foreign power and they both uniquely portray problems that arise from imperialist colonization. Fox represents the exploitation of native resources, whereas Spellgood shows us a manner of exploitation through population control, via religion. 

The issues that Allie Fox has as a man are exerted on to the people that he leads in Geronimo. On the other hand, "the fire and brimstone missionary,” (Pfeiffer 159), Spellgood shows how his control over the people comes from a higher power, and a more imperialistic order of control. We see this towards the end when the natives are watching the t.v in church, they are being controlled by the advanced ways of Spellgood and his religious organization. Allie on the other hand, while losing his mind, does not exert a clear type of rule over the people of Geronimo. While he does not treat the natives like his family, he does exploit their home, turning it from a tropical jungle to a industrialized village. 

   As the film progresses Allie loses his grip on reality completely, murdering the armed gunmen and showing that his view on imperialized society in Geronimo has failed. Allie doesn't believe in making anyone pay for anything, and gives away his ice for free. He also tries to bring ice to the undiscovered tribes. What we see in Allie is the desire to create a new system, but only by changing a few things so that it will benefit solely him and his family. While Allie doesn't charge anyone for ice and industrializes the community, he also elevates himself and his family as the rulers of Geronimo, and for that reason the inhabitants leave, and the fault of his imperialistic control is exposed as he destroys the land that he tries to improve.