Show of hands - Who wants to watch a film about a Haitian voodoo master killing innocent people and then bringing them back to life as mindless zombies who just kind of stand around looking like their dog just walked away and may not be coming back, with almost incomprehensible dialogue and black face? No one? That does not surprise me in the least.
"White Zombie" stars Bela Lugosi shortly after he made it big with "Dracula" as the voodoo master with a Satan-like goatee and eye brows that would make Groucho Marx jealous. The best thing about his character is his name - Murder Legendre. More parents need to name their children 'Murder' just as a social experiment, especially when you have a last name that sounds like 'Legendary.' That is the best ridiculous movie character name I've heard since Chiper Rage from "After Earth."
The memorable image of "White Zombie" is of Lugosi's creepy stare right into the camera. Though the film uses it so often that feels less terrifying and more like Lugosi is giving a weird look to the guy who took the last of the fried rice at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Then there are times where Lugosi has to do this stare for extended periods of time, or has to literally walk into the camera, or has to have the camera zoom in on him for about a minute.
I'm starting to get the impression this movie did not have a whole lot going for it outside of Lugosi's face.
"White Zombie" falls into the same category as obscenely silly horror films like "The Brain the Wouldn't Die" or movies that you would see on "Mystery Science Theater 3000." It is a harmless movie that is extremely dated and is mostly just good for laughs nowadays. It is the best movie to perfect your Bela Lugosi impression, if you are into that.
Final Grade: D+
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