White Zombie

Directed by Victor Halperin, White Zombie details the terror that ensues after a man asks a mad witch doctor (Bela Lugosi’s Legendre) to help him win the affections of a married woman. Filmmaker Halperin, armed with a screenplay by Garnett Weston, delivers an erratic endeavor that admittedly does get off to a decent (and promising) start, as the picture kicks off with a relatively fast-paced opening stretch that essentially (and effectively) launches right into the narrative – with the watchable vibe heightened by Arthur Martinelli’s atmospheric visuals and Lugosi’s memorably creepy performance. And while the picture does contain a handful of almost indelible images and digressions, White Zombie, perhaps inevitably, progresses into a meandering midsection that slowly-but-surely drains the proceedings of its energy and impact – which is a shame, ultimately, given that the movie does conclude with a fairly strong (and satisfying) climax. The end result is a disappointing misfire that feels a little long even at just 69 minutes, and it’s clear that White Zombie is, for the most part, unable to reach the highs achieved by Lugosi’s campy (but iconic) turn as the menacing villain.

** out of ****