Review of White Zombie (1932) by Sarfaraz A — 14 Jun 2013

White Zombie directed and produced by Victor Halperin and Edward Halperin (duo of brothers) screenplay was written by Garnett Weston based on William Seabrooks' book. Starring Béla Lugosi as Murder Legendre a Voodoo Master. This was the first Zombie film.

Madeleine is in Haiti with her fiancé Neil they are both set to get married soon - on their way to wealthy man Charles at night they witness eerie funeral going on. Charles fall for Madeleine and decides to get her for himself and for this passionate urge Charles secretly meets Murder at his sugar-cane mill which is despicably run by zombies about whom Murder says 'they need no rest on this job'. Murder suggests to Charles that the only way he can have Madeleine is by making her Zombie and he unwillingly agrees. At the night of the wedding the potion Charles received from Murder, he spills it into the drink of Madeleine and slowly she dies - having been buried the Murder along with Charles exhumes her body and takes her away to sea-shore castle. Neil starts drinking and misses his fiancé desperately he goes to missionary Dr. Bruner who figures out how some empty graves sign of the appearing zombies in the town - the two start looking for the missing body from the tomb.

The atmosphere of the film is unique and eerie to some level mixed with chilling music-score by Guy Bevier Williams - Hugo Riesenfeld - Xavier Cugat. Lugosi is the main factor who is more horrifying than the Zombies are; thanks to his expressions and delivery of dialogues. Excellent short film that tackles the sensation of romance and madness.