MovieChat Forums > White Zombie (1932) Discussion > Highly Overatted

Highly Overatted

posted 18 years ago by RatsWithSwords
53 replies | jump to latest

i am a huge horror movie fan, actually fan is not the word...morbidly obsesses. I must say tough, despite the fact "White Zombie" wa sin fact the first film to feature the living dead or "zombies" the movie is awful, and any one can see that..horror movie fan or not. The only thing that stood out was Bela Lugosi's perfomance..why do you think it was lost for over 3 decades. DOnt get me wrong, i have high respect for this film, for the whole concept that it was the poineer in the genre, but its not that great.

[–] soulflyfan 18 years ago

i actually really loved this movi

pantera

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Reeler 17 years ago

Try viewing it from the point of view of someone whose experience is with silent film. In many ways it is the same as a silent film, especially in the style of acting. The spoken dialogue (when audible in this surviving version) doesn't add much to its effectiveness, except when Lugosi speaks. The music, however, is a major addition. It is the atmosphere created by the visuals in tandem with the music that impressed me the most. This created a mood that was most unsettling. I find that feeling to be more satisfying than the immediate, but short-lived, shocks evident in more "modern" horror films.

He was a cruel man, but fair.

[–] Viser 17 years ago

I'm going to have to agree with you. The movie bored the hell out of me.

Though, I will say, Bela Lugosi looked like an absolute bad ass in the movie.

[–] Xcalat3 17 years ago

i agree this is not that good

4 out of 10

My Cat's Breath Smells Like Pussy

[–] jaloquisimo 17 years ago

It is Lugosi's film, the other actors being largely zombie-like even when that's not their role, but it is quite superbly atmospheric and features many excellent and inventive pieces of camera work. The music is ideally suited to it and the shamefully uncredited Clarence Muse turns in a great performance, much as he later did in "The Invisible Ghost" with Lugosi. I rate it very highly, but remove Lugosi from the equation and I would rate it much lower.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] bookguy 17 years ago

I don't agree. I didn't see any rats at all.

In fact, I would say this movie was UNDER ratted, if anything.

[–] joe_538 8 years ago

I didn't see any rats at all.

Not even a possum or armadillo...

[–] chasccox-1 17 years ago

The crudeness of the production actually adds to the atmosphere. The sets are huge; the score if great. It is one of the 3 most memorable nby Lugosi, perhaps the best, with the other 2 going to Dracula and as Igor In The Son of Frankenstein (but not when he reprises the role in The Ghost of Frankenstein). Lugosi looks like Satan. Whoever played the strong zombie with the beard was ideal. I love the scene with Lugosi appearing in the wine glass and the effective use of vultures. A cult classic!

[–] jvooys24 17 years ago

That is the same way I felt after seing the movie. Lugosi was fantastic, the initial story was brillant, and the atmosphere was good. That said, it should have been a far better movie. My biggest problem was with the ending. More specifically how Lugosi was killed. I thought for sure we were getting a little foreshadowing when Lugosi admitted that it was possible his zombies could regain their souls and would then rip him apart.

[–] bassgoilius 11 years ago

I thought the same--that his zombies would be his undoing.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Trueright 17 years ago

Love early horror...can't stand this flick. Low on the list for me.