White Zombie (1932)
Posted on August 19, 2005
Filed Under Black and white, Classics, Zombies
White Zombie has to be one of the most unappreciated horror films of all time. It came worryingly close to never being finished, the Halperin brothers (Victor and Edward – producer and director) rarely feature in histories of the genre and it hardly ever resurfaces on TV or reissue. This is a tragedy as White Zombie is a film of stunning merit; as well as being one of the first to feature reanimated corpses it is noteworthy as one of the few successful talkies of the era to perfectly capture the atmospherics of the silent films which were on the demise at the time.
The plot is simple enough but is delivered with real presence and care. United Artists bought the rights to the film for a pittance, so the Halperins had to cut corners at every level. As is often the case, this had the effect of stimulating their artistic vision and enhances what might have been a standard offering. The lighting is particularly weak, but this has an electrifying effect as we’re given only the briefest of glimpses of the zombie hordes that are roaming over the island. The pace is slow (perhaps a little too slow for some) but never sedentary, and though there are no surprises along the way it is a joy to watch the Halperins’ story unfold. In an interesting interpretation of the concept the zombies in this are intentionally brought back to life to act as free labour for the mills of Haiti. Murder Legendre doesn’t just use his powers in the service of capitalism though, and his ability and willingness to bring anyone he wants under his control is both repugnant and enthralling.
This is in large part down to a spellbinding performance by Bela Lugosi. In a manner which was the mark of much of the rest of his career, he was contracted out to the Halperins for a discount price because Universal had no projects for him at that time. It demonstrates his extraordinary talent that he rose above this to deliver a performance that is topped only by his portrayal of Dracula. He obviously relished playing Legendre, making the most of a pretty standard script and breathing into it his own unique brand of captivating horror. The showdown with Robert Frazer is especially arresting and also gives the other fine players a chance to shine (the music on these scenes is particularly effective too and worthy of mention). Madge Bellamy brings all of the talent that made her a star in the silent era to her role, and her trance scenes are hauntingly beautiful.
Outside of Dracula I’d say that this is the finest movie that Bela Lugosi ever starred in and it demonstrates beyond doubt his ability to raise the most simple of stories to a higher standing and dominate the screen. In this beautifully atmospheric film he is given room to shine and neither he nor the Halperins put a foot wrong. Crucial viewing for both Lugosi fans AND general viewers alike.
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