In “I Walked With a Zombie,” Nurse Betsy Connell (Frances Dee), a Jane Eyre-type character, travels to the fictional island of St. Sebastian. She’s been hired to care for the catatonic wife of sugar plantation owner Paul Holland (Tom Conway), with whom she promptly falls in love. Connell also falls under the spell of the warm tropical breezes, the distant beat of drums used in voodoo ceremonies and the strange superstitions of the locals. Viewers are drawn into the family’s tragic story, but are left to decide for themselves whether Holland’s wife was stricken by a tropical fever or had become a “zombie” as the villagers believe. Val Lewton produced a series of psychological horror films in the ’40s with high production values, despite their low budgets. “I Walked With a Zombie” features sold performances and creates an eerie and atmospheric film with some truly frightening moments. (69 min.)
Unrated - 1943
Starring:
Frances Dee
Tom Conway
James Ellison
Edith Barrett
Christine Gordon
Sir Lancelot
Teresa Harris
Darby Jones
Director:
Jacques Tourneur
Writers:
Inez Wallace (story)
Curt Siodmak (screenplay)
Ardel Wray (screenplay)
Recent comments