From Haitian spiritual traditions to Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, this new documentary explores how the zombie became one of horror’s most enduring monsters.
We were about 8 years old the first time we saw George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, and saying it left a mark would be a massive understatement.
Watching those terrified survivors barricaded inside a farmhouse while ravenous, flesh-eating zombies gathered outside completely hooked us. From that night on, we were obsessed with zombies. There was something about the hopelessness, practical effects and sheer panic of watching ordinary people fight to survive that stuck with us.
So naturally, when a documentary comes along promising to dig into the history of the zombie, we’re paying attention. See, folks, Truly Disturbing can be educational too!
Kino Lorber has unveiled a new trailer and poster for Black Zombie, a documentary exploring the origins of one of horror’s most recognizable monsters.
Directed by Maya Annik Bedward, Black Zombie goes beyond the familiar flesh-eating corpse, tracing the zombie back through Haitian spiritual traditions and colonial history while examining how the figure evolved into a staple of horror cinema.
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR “BLACK ZOMBIE” BELOW
The documentary explores the zombie as a cultural symbol tied to slavery, stolen agency, survival and resistance, while revisiting films including White Zombie, Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and The Serpent and the Rainbow.
Combining archival footage, vérité scenes and interviews with historians, artists and genre figures, the film features Yves Grégory François, Mambo Labelle Déesse, Slash, Tom Savini and Zandashé Brown.
Written and directed by Bedward, who also produces alongside Hannah Donegan and Kate Fraser, Black Zombie features executive producers Jennifer Holness, Michael Paszt, Andrew Thomas Hunt, James Fler and Slash.
For those of us who discovered zombies way too young and never quite recovered, Black Zombie looks like a damn fascinating trip through the history behind our favorite flesh eaters.
Kino Lorber will release Black Zombie in limited theaters September 11, followed by digital and physical releases.
