WHITE ZOMBIE-1932-In Haiti, a couple, Neil (John Harron) and Madeline (Madge Bellamy) are to be married in the home of Mr. Beaumont (Robert Frazer), a weird guy who's obviously obsessed with Madeline. They meet the friendly eccentric Dr. Bruner (Joseph Cawthorn) who is to marry them. While being driven to Beaumont’s plantation, they run into a bunch of guys their driver (Clarence Muse) says are zombies. Beaumont visits 'Murder” Legendre and his mill of zombie workers. He wants Madeline all to himself. Legendre suggests turning her into a zombie. Beaumont doesn't go for the idea. But Legendre has his own agenda. He casts a spell that seems to make her die.
Poor Neil takes to drink and hallucinates. Legendre and Beaumont visit Madeline's tomb and his zombie servants (all former enemies) remove her coffin. Neil discovers the empty tomb and freaks out. Dr. Bruner explains that the zombies aren't really dead. They are just under a spell. Soon Madeline is up and about and playing the piano for Beaumont but now she's just an empty shell. Beaumont realizes his mistake and begs Legendre to return her to her living state. Instead, Legendre turns Beaumont into a zombie because he “has other plans” for Madeline. Beaumont's sneaky butler Silver (Brandon Hurst) is thrown in the water to drown (he holds his nose before being dunked). Neil & Bruner get help from witch doctor Pierre (Dan Crimmins). Neil gets to the castle but collapses. Legendre finds him and commands Madeline to stab him.
This is a low budget but eerie independent horror film with a nice climax and Lugosi great as the smirking evil power mad villain. Makeup by Jack Pierce. Director Victor Halperin later made REVOLT OF THE ZOMBIES (1936). His brother Edward was the producer.
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