For most of this week of horrors I’ve focused on classics of the silent era. Here I thought I’d throw something else into the mix. Not only is 1932’s White Zombie not of the silent era, it’s not really a classic, either.
But it IS something of a landmark. Featuring screen legend Béla Lugosi, best known for being creepy as hell (and the most recognizable Dracula), White Zombie is probably the first ever zombie film, albeit not in the George Romero way we think of zombies today. This is classic voodoo and witch doctor stuff.
Is it any good? The reviews were not great (though it’s quite a moody picture), and I’m afraid time hasn’t sparked a renewed interest in the film, either. Still, if you’re a fan of the genre or of Lugosi’s work, you might want to check it out. It’s public domain, so here it is:
Some things to note:
* Like far, far too many early films, White Zombie was once thought lost. A print was discovered in the 1960s.
* Yes, the band White Zombie named itself after this film.
