Review of I Walked with a Zombie (1943) by Luke H — 01 Jan 2009

I Walked With A Zombie has to be one the most under-rated horror of all time. It is scary--without the use of blood, it is scary--without the use of horrific, un-realistic killers, it is scary with the use of shadows, darkness, music and the subtlty of the actors. It has the same beauty of the silent german expressionism and mimicks the use of shadows seen in them to create a horror film which is just as memorable as the silent classics it seems to have gotten great inspiration by.

A film that doesn't scare me disappoints me and I was not disappointed and I feel that the old methods of creating fear, and the atmosphere that often beholds that fear has long gone and films like this should always be remembered, so perhaps old style horror can restart again and gain a new fan base.

The performances are incredible. Each actor is restrained, but in a good way, and hence show realism in the fear they are portraying. They are restrrined from over acting and from screaming one too many times and inevitiably ruining a great horror film.

The pacing the director created is remarkable and allows a real sense of mystery to arise because of it. he also choose many good angles to use and at the right times. when a close up is needed, it is used, when a tracking shot is needed, it is used and with wonderful skill too.

Although this is not as good as the universal horror films it comes very close indeed and it is a film that will stay in my memory and perhaps even make me, like some of the characters begin to feel, scared of the dark aswell!