I Walked with a Zombie
Dir: Jacques Tourneur
1943
*****
I Walked with a Zombie has another sensationalist title that was typical of Val Lewton to draw in the crowds which it really didn't need to do as it is a fantastic thriller and by 1943 Val Lewton & Jacques Tourneur were quite respected in their own right. I feel the title puts a lot of people off which is a shame because this is a classic thriller that isn't really about what we see Zombies as these days at all. As you'd expect from Lewton and Tourneur, the black and white contrast, composition and overall direction is glorious. The ambiguous nature of the story as far as cultures are concerned only highlight the often ridiculous but very real fear of the supernatural. Tradition, fear, ignorance, superstition and the clash of cultures are issues explored brilliantly to create one of the greatest ghost stories in cinema.