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critics consensus

Evocative direction by Jacques Tourneur collides with the low-rent production values of exploitateer Val Lewton in I Walked with a Zombie, a sultry sleeper that's simultaneously smarmy, eloquent and fascinating. Read critic reviews

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I Walked With a Zombie Photos

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Movie Info

Canadian nurse Betsey Connell (Frances Dee) is hired to care for Jessica Holland (Christine Gordon), a woman on a Caribbean sugar plantation, who has a bizarre condition. The mysterious affliction baffles Betsy but when she falls for Jessica's husband, Paul (Tom Conway), she is determined to make him happy by curing his wife. However, in her quest, Betsey is drawn into the island's dark culture of voodoo and zombies and begins to uncover the Holland family's sinister secrets.

Cast & Crew

James Ellison
Wesley Rand
Frances Dee
Betsy Connell
Tom Conway
Paul Holland
Edith Barrett
Mrs. Rand
James Bell
Dr. Maxwell
Christine Gordon
Jessica Holland
Theresa Harris
Alma, Maid
Darby Jones
Carrefour
Richard Abrams
Clement (uncredited)
Martin Wilkins
Houngan (uncredited)
Jacques Tourneur
Director
Charlotte Brontë
Writer (Novel)
Inez Wallace
Writer (Story)
Curt Siodmak
Writer
Ardel Wray
Writer
Val Lewton
Producer
Roy Webb
Original Music
J. Roy Hunt
Cinematographer
Mark Robson
Film Editor
Albert S. D'Agostino
Art Direction
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Critic Reviews for I Walked With a Zombie

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (5)

View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for I Walked With a Zombie

  • Aug 29, 2018
    A nurse (Frances Dee) comes to the West Indies to help two brothers (Tom Conway and James Ellison) tend to the older of the two's wife (Christine Gordon), who is stuck in a perpetual trancelike state. Her doctor is mystified, but it's clear that voodoo from the locals must be involved. There are some nice scenes at night in the film, such as a walk through the rustling sugarcane fields, which evoke a dreamy and gothic feeling. The characters involved in the voodoo itself are fantastic, most notably, the solemn Carrefour (guardian of the crossroads), played by Darby Jones, who has an extraordinary appearance. He alone makes the film worth seeing, especially as it's so short at 69 minutes, but it's also great to briefly see the voodoo dancers. Unfortunately, the film's three main characters are all uninspiring, wandering through this script as if they were the ones who were zombies, at least emotionally. A love is supposed to develop between Dee and Conway, which isn't based on anything we can possibly see, and is therefore unbelievable. The character actions also seem hard to believe at times as well, for example, when they discover the wife doesn't bleed when cut, nothing is done with this information. As in 'Cat People' (1942), also directed by Jacques Tourneur, there are some really nice, eerie moments in this film, but the rest of it is too understated for my taste, and lacking in emotion.
    Antonius B Super Reviewer
  • Oct 04, 2011
    Exactly what the consensus described, this is the mother of the zombie films. A must watch for the Zombie fans
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Apr 12, 2011
    Although he went on to make much better films, Jacques Tourner's I Walked With a Zombie is not anywhere near a waste of time. There are some genuinely creepy moments (although they're repeated in other Val Lewton productions) and some very lovely cinematography. There's not really much of a plot to speak of and our leading lady has very little to do in the second half of the movie, but there's some good stuff here. Worth a late night viewing.
    Tim S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 17, 2010
    I really enjoyed this. It was creepy, but not in an over-the-top way. It also had some catchy music and songs which I thought was a little weird, but again, enjoyable!
    Sarah P Super Reviewer
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