planktonrules Review of I Walked with a Zombie

I Walked with a Zombie (1943)

Very good and moody reworking of Jane Eyre

[7/10 · 1 November 2006]

This is a very strange movie in several ways--beyond just that fact that the producer and director wanted a "strange" film. The genre of film is very tough to determine for I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE. Despite the title and the zombies, this really isn't a horror film--though there are definitely some scary elements. And, unlike the original, it isn't exactly a romance. Sure, the nurse (Francis Dee) does become infatuated with the older brother (Tom Conway--the real life brother of George Sanders), but unlike the original Jane Eyre, this is not really fully developed in the film. And, in some ways, it's a mystery film because HOW Conway's wife became a zombie was a secret that is only revealed at the end. And, it's a tragedy as the ending, in particular, is quite sad. So, in effect, it's a horror-like romantic-suspense-mystery! Considering that the movie was a B-movie with a small budget and lesser name actors, they certainly had a very successful film that delivered a lot of "bang for the buck". The acting was decent, the direction superb and the sets super-effective. While not a great film, it is quite entertaining and worth seeing. I was really torn on how to score this film--it's more of a 7.5!