I Walked with a Zombie | 100 Movies Bucket List

 

I hadn't heard of this film before I saw it on the list, but based on the name alone I was apprehensive about it.

I tend to find zombie movies hit-or-miss, and usually on the miss side. But when I like them, I really love them, so I'm always willing to give them a chance. And this one didn't seem like the usual zombie movie anyway.

In terms of classic movies that have inspired contemporary movies, the zombie genre seems to be one that goes in and out of fashion. They're also a theme that transcends genres - despite having a horror background, they've also featured prominently in comedies and dramas, which seems to be why they stay relevant in popular culture.

I liked this film, but I fall more on the side of it being average/good than good/great.

This is a left-field observation but I found the depiction of the Caribbean really interesting. Despite it being the 40s, and the majority of the cast being white, the setting definitely has a significant influence, both visually and in the score.

And of course, one of the significant themes of the film is voodoo, which is heavily rooted in both the Caribbean specifically, and more broadly across the African diaspora. I really liked seeing it explored here in a more classic sense, but I particularly like seeing the way it has changed as time has gone on.

The actors do such a great job with this - not only are the characters interesting, but the actors make you really believe what they're saying.

Despite being an incredibly short movie, it feels longer than it is - maybe because not that much happens, but the plot feels full and somewhat slow, which isn't necessarily a bad thing when you only have an hour to work with.

That being said, I would have liked it if more happened. I liked what did happen, I just wanted more of it, more of the characters, more of the voodoo, more horror.

I liked the ending, particularly the explanation of everything. It kind of makes things take on more of a traditional horror slant, and it adds more depth to Mrs. Rand, a really interesting character.

So while I had a good time with this one, I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.