Review of "White Zombie" (DVD)

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.

Staci's Top Ten Zombie Movies

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)

Still hungry for more?

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 for Horror.com