I Walked with a Zombie (1943) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | I Walked with a Zombie |
| Release Year | 1943 |
| Original Title | I Walked with a Zombie |
| Director | Jacques Tourneur |
| Screenplay Writer | Curt Siodmak, Ardel Wray |
| Story By | Inez Wallace |
| Based on Novel by | Loosely inspired by Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë |
| Producer(s) | Val Lewton |
| Executive Producer(s) | — |
| Lead Actors | Frances Dee, Tom Conway |
| Cast | Frances Dee, Tom Conway, James Ellison, Edith Barrett, Christine Gordon |
| Genre | Horror |
| Subgenre | Zombie Horror, Gothic Horror |
| Release Date | April 21, 1943 (United States) |
| Runtime / Duration | 1h 9m (69 minutes) |
| Budget | Low-budget RKO production |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | Successful theatrical release |
| Language | English |
| Country | United States |
| Production Company | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Distributor | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Filming Locations | RKO Studios, California, USA |
| Music By | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | J. Roy Hunt |
| Edited By | Mark Robson |
| Production Design | Albert S. D’Agostino, Walter E. Keller |
| Costume Design | Edward Stevenson |
| Special Effects | Atmospheric lighting and practical effects |
| Makeup Effects | Subtle zombie makeup |
| MPAA Rating | Approved |
| Aspect Ratio | 1.37:1 |
| Sound Mix | Mono |
| Format | Black-and-white |
| Themes | Colonialism, voodoo, death, forbidden love |
| Setting | Caribbean plantation island |
| Notable Trivia | Considered one of the most artistic and atmospheric horror films of the 1940s |
| Critical Reception | Widely acclaimed by critics and film historians |
| Audience Reception | Cult classic with enduring legacy |
| Awards / Nominations | National Film Registry selection consideration discussions |
| Home Media | VHS, DVD, Blu-ray |
| Streaming Availability | Available on classic film streaming services |
| Sequels / Franchise | None |
| Franchise Type | Standalone classic horror film |
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A young nurse is sent to the West Indies to care for a plantation owner’s wife, a woman who will follow simple directions but seems to have no will of her own. Once there she finds a tragic, meandering tale of two brothers and the zombie they both love.
First let me say if you expect some action, scares, deaths, or the like in your horror, you’ll probably be disappointed with I Walked with a Zombie. On the other hand, if you like some Jane Eyre in your horror, check it baby, your prayers have been answered! That’s right, this is basically the classic novel about two brothers love for one woman, with a zombie thrown in. As ridiculous as that sounds, it’s actually a well-respected and positively reviewed film, but not by me.
The problem with this movie and it’s ilk, they really expect the audience to believe anything they toss at ’em.
The love story aspect, for example, the part so many people cherish in this movie, is so ridiculous I can’t understand how an adult couldn’t feel insulted. A woman meets a guy twice for a matter of minutes, he’s somewhat distant, then she’s thinking to herself “I realized I loved him dearly.” Believable in a short story your nine year old makes up, but surely people in the forties had a little grasp on reality? No? Based on their films, I guess not.
These “voodoo zombie” movies are interesting, though, even though not the type of zombie I like. Voodoo came from Haiti, a mix of African religion and Catholicism. Haiti was scary as hell to Americans for a long time because the slaves all rose up and butchered the white people, a fear deeply rooted in the south.
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