With the, er, "revived" interest in zombies and other forms of resurrection lately (Dawn of the Dead, The Passion of the Christ, Godsend), I thought now would be a good time to revisit one of the first zombie movies, ever.
White Zombie (1932) is largely considered the cinematic pioneer of the genre, although some would argue that Robert Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919) featuring the "somnambulist" Cesare, was the first. Probably one of the closest early interpretations of the zombie legend was Jacques Tourneur's masterpiece I Walked With a Zombie (1943), but neither of those movies had the incomparable Bela Lugosi in the lead.
Lugosi followed up his star-making turn in Dracula (1931) with this ambitious horror film from the bargain-basement Halperin Brothers. Lugosi hams it up, obviously enjoying playing one of the coolest-named villains ever, Murder Legendre. Legendre is nattily groomed, complete with a waxed goatee and a uni-brow wig pasted over his searing, staring eyes. Early on, we learn that he's a hypnotist and voodoo master who has been supplying the local mills with an army of uncomplaining zombie workers. But those are just lowly laborers -- what he really wants is a white zombie. Preferably a young and pretty little thing in see-through clothing.
He finds her in the person of Madeleine (Madge Bellamy), a bow-lipped Englishwoman engaged to marry her beau, Neil Parker (John Harron). Matters are further complicated when Charles Beaumont (Robert Fraser), a local plantation owner becomes obsessed with Madeleine, and strikes a devil's bargain with Legendre, claiming Madeleine just before the wedding. Can Parker find her in time to reverse the curse? Or will he fall under Legendre's spell himself?
Although White Zombie is low budget and some very obvious-looking mattes and flimsy sets were used, there is talent behind the camera. Eerie, atmospheric shots coupled with artistic knowing and well-directed creepy moments, are part of what makes this film so vivid and memorable. In spite of all the time that's passed, White Zombie still stands today as a classic, not just a curiosity.
The Roan Group is responsible for restoring this fine film and putting it in the DVD format. It does have a visual glitch or two and the sound quality is less than perfect, but you have to bear in mind that it's a 72 year old movie that probably wasn't especially well taken care of throughout its life in the can. The DVD offers a commentary track by historian Gary Don Rhodes who provides a mix of history and interpretation, a 1952 trailer in sepia tone, and filmed interviews with Lugosi.
Here are a few recommendations for you; bear in mind, these are of my own personal taste — I'm not a huge fan of zombie movies, and I'm way out of step with the masses who loved the early George Romero films and 28 Days Later — but maybe you'll find a zombie movie here you never saw before.
1) The Serpent and the Rainbow, 1988 (very good story, and even better book [by Wade Davis])
2) Pet Sematary, 1989 (here kitty, kitty…)
3) Dawn of the Dead, 2004 (what other movie has a Jay Leno zombie?)
4) Evil Dead II, 1987 (you've got to see Ash's S.O. "giving head")
5) Zombi, 1979 (a super-bloody Italian cult classic)
6) White Zombie, 1932 (Bela Lugosi as a zombie-master — need I say more?)
7) I Walked With a Zombie, 1943 (super tagline: "She's alive... yet dead! She's dead... yet alive!")
8) Re-Animator, 1985 (head and shoulders above the rest)
9) Cemetery Man, 1994 (a creepy, funny funereal fantasy)
10) Chopper Chicks in Zombietown, 1992 (OK, it's not a great movie but it's got an awesome title and Billy Bob Thornton in a small role)
Alien Dead, 1980
Army of Darkness, 1993
Astro Zombies, 1967
The Beyond, 1980
Blood Nasty, 1989
The Boneyard, 1991
Braindead, 1992
Bride of Re-Animator, 1990
Burial Ground, 1980
City of the Walking Dead, 1980
Dawn Of The Dead, 1968
Day Of The Dead, 1985
Dead Heat, 1988
Dead Men Walk, 1943
Deadly Friend, 1986
The Dead Next Door, 1988
Dr. Butcher, M.D, 1979
The Evil Dead, 1981
The Fog, 1980
Garden of the Dead, 1972
Hard Rock Zombies, 1985
Horror of the Zombies, 1974
House by the Cemetery, 1981
I Eat Your Skin, 1964
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies, 1963
The Invisible Dead, 1970
Invisible Invaders, 1959
King Of The Zombies, 1941
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, 1974
The Mad Ghoul, 1943
My Boyfriend's Back, 1993
Night of the Comet, 1984
Night of the Creeps, 1986
Night Life, 1989
Night Of The Living Dead, 1968
Night of the Living Dead, 1990
Night Of The Zombies,1983
Oasis Of The Zombies. 1981
Pet Sematary II, 1992
Phantasm, 1979
Phantasm II, 1988
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead, 1994
Plague Of The Zombies, 1966
Plan 9 From Outer Space, 1958
Psychomania, 1971
Redneck Zombies, 1988
Rest in Pieces, 1987
Return of the Blind Dead, 1972
Return Of The Living Dead, 1985
Return Of The Living Dead II, 1988
Return of the Living Dead III, 1990
Revenge of the Living Zombies, 1989
Revenge Of The Zombies, 1943
Revolt Of The Zombies, 1936
Ring of Darkness, 2004
Santo vs. The Zombies, 1961
Shatter Dead, 1994
Shock Waves, 1975
The Supernaturals, 1986
The Thirsty Dead, 1975
Tombs of the Blind Dead, 1971
Toxic Zombies, 1980
Twenty-Eight Days Later, 2002
Vengeance of the Zombies, 1972
Virgin Among the Living Dead, 1971
Voodoo Dawn, 1990
Voodoo Island, 1957
Voodoo Man, 1944
Voodoo Woman, 1957
The Walking Dead, 1936.
The Wedding Night, 1997
Zombies on Broadway, 1945
Zombie Cop, 1991
Zombie High, 1987
Zombie Island Massacre, 1984
Zombie Lake, 1980
The Zombies Of Mora Tau, 1957
Zombies Of The Stratosphere, 1958
The Zombies Of Sugar Hill, 1974
Zombie Nightmare, 1987
Review by Staci Layne Wilson [1] for Horror.com
Links:
[1] http://staciwilson.com/