Often touted as the first zombie film ever made, White Zombie highlights how the world of cinema and its audiences have significantly changed over the years. As a horror film, White Zombie doesn’t have the same effect on moviegoers as it would have when it was first screened 80 years ago. While it may have lost some of its darkness and suspense, it nevertheless still retains its quirky plot, which seems to be a common feature of many older black and white films. A young couple, Madeline and Neil, get married at Monsieur Beaumont’s plantation before Beaumont tries to persuade Madeline to run away with him. After his efforts are futile, Beaumont turns to witch doctor, Legendre, to help him using his powers. Things don’t go as Beaumont plans and he tries to reverse Legendre’s spell while Neil searches for his wife.
Not surprisingly, the highlight of the film is Bela “Dracula” Lugosi (as he is named in one of the movie posters). An icon of early horror films and honoured in films such as Ed Wood, it is Lugosi’s eerie manner and fine acting that makes this film. Lugosi is a physical actor and the frequent close-ups in White Zombie draw attention to his expressive eyes and eyebrows – a key element of any horror film villain. So while the film doesn’t have the full impact of a horror movie, it is worth seeing if only to see the fine Bela Lugosi at work.
3/5
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