King of the Zombies (1941)

I was talking with my wife about the dunk tank for the Zombie Beach Party being thrown by the guys at Bad Zombie in May when I stumbled upon the gem from the 1940s. While not modern zombies, the classic voodoo zombies always make good entertainment, and 1941s King of the Zombies is no different.

Plot/ During World War 2, a small plane off the south coast of America is low on fuel and blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crashland on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor. The easily-spooked manservant soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies and ghosts.

This is definitely an often overlooked and underappreciated flick from the 1940's. While it does have some flaws due to the low production values and social overtones of the time, the direction more than makes up for that. The film boasts some sound pacing and acting that worked well within the storyline. Yes, the effects are hilarious (the model plane at the beginning), but for what it is, it works. This is really a great Saturday afternoon classic voodoo zombie romp, and should be enjoyed.