I Walked With a Zombie

I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE is where the zombie genre starts, set off by the cheap Lewton-produced b-filmery that characterizes Jacques Tourneur. Tourneur, whose masterpieces come before and after this film, was a master of film noir, and that comes out the most in I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE. Told by a single, female narrator, Tourneur's film recollects a young nurse's time spent at St. Sebastien, one of those Caribbean islands plagued by the history of slavery. Betsy spends her time trying to gain the favor of her boss, a tale and mustached elite, while juggling his odd and gloomy brother, piercing mother, and zombified wife. She is completely unaware of anything, and Betsy tries to cure her of this affliction. Outside of the gates, however, is the black culture, overtaken by voodoo in a dastardly fashion both political and morally questionable. I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE is effective because it relies on imagery and tone to guide its story. It is odd and dreamy, occasionally melancholy and unhopeful. But this is what should characterize the genre of horror. No gimmicks, for, really, isn't scaring you out of your seat a gimmick? But, instead, creating a world that is deplorable and hopeless, the underbelly, that is admirable.

★★★★