film american pre code horror film directed independently produced victor screenplay based tells story young woman transformation zombie hands evil master stars antagonist appearing victim cast members included large portions shot universal_studios lot borrowing props scenery horror films era opened new_york negative reception reviewers criticizing film story weak acting performances film substantial financial profit independent feature proved popular horror films time considered feature length zombie film sequel film titled revolt zombies opened modern reception positive initial release critics praised atmosphere film comparing 1940s horror film productions unfavorable opinion quality acting plot summary arrival haiti reunites fiancé imminent plans married way lodging couple coach passes evil master observes interest manages grab arrive home wealthy plantation owner charles love prompts meet murder secretly murder mill operated entirely zombies charles wants convince marry murder supernatural assistance murder states way help charles transform zombie agrees gives shortly wedding ceremony takes effect appears die funeral murder charles enter tomb night murder zombie drunk depressed goes tomb finding seeks assistance local missionary recounts murder turned rivals zombies guard estate men journey murder castle rescue castle charles begun regret transformation begs murder return life murder refuses charles discovers murder transforming zombie enters fortress murder senses presence orders kill approaches knife stops follows murder commands zombie guardians kill approaches murder knocks breaking murder mental control zombies zombies cliff murder awakens charles pushes murder cliff charles loses balance falls death murder death releases zombie trance awakens embrace cast murder white master commands crew zombies fiancée turned zombie bank employee plantation owner love coach driver leaving haiti missionary later helps save silver butler rich man fallen spell zombie zombie control maid zombie witch doctor zombie zombie production went development early leased office space universal_studios film titled zombie underway film zombie theme inspired broadway play titled zombie screenplay written screenplay focuses action dialog aid producer helped secure funds independent films time filmed days march shot universal_studios lot small budget film night majority cast actors fame diminished silent film era time appeared popular contemporary audiences starring role hit film sources vary salary claims range close friend 1950s reported payment white zombie tax returns cast crew reaction set mixed recalled collaboration positively stating pleasant kiss hand morning come set contrast assistant remarked wasn friendly type set previously worked offered role salary role looked actor value decided cast known audiences comic relief stage film roles set designer utilized rented sets previous universal_studios films sets included great halls pillars hanging balcony notre dame dark corridors chairs addition assistant director sound director clark earned film credit working artist responsible famous horror films era including wolf man music supervised instead pre recorded music record new versions compositions specific film involved music draws works including pictures exhibition incidental death great chief pieces white zombie soundtrack include music written film begins chant composition vocals drumming created universal_studios employee specialist ethnic music release experienced distribution problems beginning went film studios including initial release distributing independent foreign films year bought rights release preview cut shown june new_york_city print running time minutes regular distribution prints ran minutes critical response critical reviews focused poor acting storyline stated plot ridiculous acting wrote story tries earnest attempt thrilling mark line resolves hilarious comedy new_york_daily_news wrote fantastic eerie scenes evolved border industry trade reviews positive wrote rates best type film impressive makes picture worthwhile harrison reports wrote film certainly standards types audience horror pictures enjoy national media outlet reviewers generally negative opined film interesting measure complete failure liberty wrote shock thriller acting vanity_fair worst movie article wrote terrific holding slight lead bring alive murders united_kingdom press mixed weekly thought film acted good atmosphere thought highly intelligent cinema news property gazette thought film sophisticated exaggerated treatment subject reverse effect thrill conviction years film release expressed horror films don believe fear violence horror traffic modern critical reception mixed critics praising film atmosphere acting wrote shoots poetic melodrama trance unique result constitutes virtual bridge classic universal horror later productions guide gave film half stars comparing film atmosphere film magazine described acting inadequate exception biographer identified flaws including poor acting bad timing sloppy film aspects wrote film courage film difficult admire ambitions principal players box office premiered july new_york_city theatre film received mixed box office reception initial release great financial success independent film time film experienced positive box office numbers small towns united_states germany title von der american horror films approved nazis popularity film led victor contract opening july providence rhode_island indianapolis indiana film grossed respectively following week engagements contemporary horror films grossed providence indianapolis theater wasn happy audiences saw pleased cleveland ohio sold record tickets weekend initial release august montreal canada film opened august princess theatre facade transformed house living dead zombies walked atop film failed gross estimated earned following week run princess theatre comparison grossed montreal week march home video transferred poor quality prints vhs 1980s film released dvd companies including varying image quality book zombie movies ultimate guide described later dvd release title best available online film database features positive review transfer stating film looked better film released blu ray january aftermath influence considered feature length zombie film described model zombie movies early horror films followed origins style horror films 1930s borrowed themes people returning dead elements zombie mythology films include ghost breakers king zombies walked zombie plague zombies films contain elements including blank eyed drums zombies performing manual labor directed sequel revolt zombies released considered role villain went producer returned sequel modern critical response revolt zombies generally unfavorable review review declares experimentation dull composition shots lit shots characters numbers plot rated stars gave revolt zombies star deemed far inferior original scenes appeared films including curtis hand rocks cradle heavy metal band appropriated film group vocalist said film great film lot people know film readily available lost company released model kit based murder character announced direct remake worked script project halted rights issues explained clearly public domain question marks uncredited source material released adaptation stranger adaptations sullivan told movies public adaptation way right list public domain films thought good adaptation
White Zombie (film)