Revenge of the Zombies (1943) User Reviews

Revenge of the Zombies (1943) **

[JoeKarlosi · 5/10 · 18 August 2005]

A pretty ordinary cheapie from Monogram Studios that begins with some promising atmosphere and visual style, but ultimately deteriorates with a lot of talk and some lame attempts at comic relief by black funny-man Mantan Moreland, who's not so humorous this time around.

A very youthful John Carradine plays it surprisingly low-key as an unconvincing Nazi scientist trying to create an army of non-scary zombies to fight for the Germans. He even turns his own wife into one of them, the fiend. These living dead sleepwalkers are more like what you'd call the "marching dead" as they step about in silly and perfect militaristic formation, like mindless robots. Those viewers unfamiliar with "pre-Romero" zombie movies are bound to be left especially stumped.

** out of ****

Sekely Goulash

[rmax304823 · 5/10 · 8 June 2009]

It's instructive to compare this tale of zombies in da bayou country being raised to provide Hitler with an indestructible army, with Val Lewton's almost contemporaneous production, "I Walked With a Zombie", over at RKO. Both are saddled with lurid title and a low budget. Both have a few recognizable names at the head of the cast. But "I Walked With a Zombie" is immeasurably better than this one because of the care that Lewton put into his minor masterpieces. "Revenge" seems to have been thrown together hastily, made up of comic, dramatic, and mystery elements -- something for the whole war time family including the half-dozen kids. Maybe ESPECIALLY the kids.

The plot is absurd, naturally, but generally speaking the notion of zombies is kind of interesting from a cultural perspective. Think of it. A horde of mindless workers who never die, never eat, and never get paid. Slaves who don't mind their condition. It's the very model of a traditional agrarian society. Zombies provide labor-intensive enterprises with the rough and unskilled hands they need. It's no surprise that we associate zombies with the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast. That's where plantations of rice, sugar, cotton, and tobacco thrived.

Oh, yes. The movie.

All done by the numbers. Everything is pretty much rudimentary, from the photography to the direction by Steve Sekely and set dressing. John Carradine gives the only truly smooth performance. Gale Storm is cute but irrelevant. Mantan Moreland does his usual eye-bulging number but never gets around to saying, "Feets, don't fail me now!," which might have salvaged at least one scene.

Otherwise, the acting is no better than you or I could do. Of course the performers get no help from the script but it would hardly matter. If you doubt it, stand in front of your bathroom mirror and recite this line, "Gentlemen, I think that it's imperative that we see no unholy rites are performed over Mrs. Altermann." If that particular line is troublesome, try this one. "Forgive me, Hair Doctor, but I can't believe you would turn your wife into a zombie." Well, it's not entirely without its virtues. The movie provided employment for a number of African-American actors and actresses outside the flourishing black cinema of the period.

The skeleton in the closet -- the one called "Charlie" -- is actually a female. The pelvic girdles are the windows of the skeleton.

"Things walkin that ain't got no business walkin"

[preppy-3 · 5/10 · 30 October 2007]

A somewhat fun Monogram horror movie. The wife of Dr. von Altermann (John Carradine) has died mysteriously. Her brother and a hired detective (hunky Robert Lowery) investigate. It seems the doctor is quite mad and experimenting on human beings and turning them into zombies.

Yes, it's a cheap no budget movie but it's fun. It has a nice atmospheric opening, a few amusing lines, some funny bits by Mantan Moreland and an interesting plot. Also Carradine gives a good performance and Lowery is tall, handsome, muscular and pretty good in a nothing role. A light enjoyable horror flick. Good viewing around Halloween. I give this a 5.

Goose Stepping into the Beyond

[howdymax · 26 September 2002]

This movie is another example of the genius of Poverty Row studios, like Monogram, Republic, Mascot, etc. Who can argue with the kind of comedic mystery represented by Charlie Chan, The Purple Monster, The Tiger Woman, Radio Ranch, Rocket Man, and zombie movies like this.

The plot has to do with a mad scientist who wants to create an army of zombie Storm Troopers to help the Nazi's conquer America. (Be sure to look for an early scene where the zombies are assembled and goose step in formation). I don't think we need to go any farther into the story. It is only important to realize that this is Saturday Matinee entertainment in it's purest form.

It is one of the only forums where one can see the sinister elegance of a John Carradine, as well as the comic genius of a Mantan Moreland, all the while enjoying a virtual parade of second string pre-prime, and post-prime players. In this case we find Gale Storm (pre My Little Margie), and Bob Steele (post cowboy). A mute Veda Ann Borg, as the zombie wife, reminds us that her voice was as important as her acting. Speaking of Mantan Moreland; it is really too bad that PC guilt won't allow for the recognition he deserves.

I urge anyone who is interested in a little Saturday entertainment to catch this little gem if you can. You won't be disappointed. If you like it, and I know you will, you might want to check out another called "The Whip Hand".

"Take my zombie wife....please!"

[zeppo-2 · 4/10 · 27 April 2006]

One of low budget horror schlockmeister actor, John Carradine's more animated roles as a implied Nazi scientist, who is turning humans into zombies to serve the Reich. Mindless scuffling brain dead, only able to obey the most simple of orders....bit like staff in McDonalds.

Hitler isn't mentioned by name, since America wasn't at war at the time they was filmed, but it's pretty obvious who the bad guys are working for!

There seems to be two types of zombies in film, the traditional voodoo type popular in the old black & white films of the 1930's and '40's. Blank eyed and just following the commands of someone else as they stumble along. And then there is the type we know from later films like 'The Night of the Living Dead' and 'The Evil Dead.' Still roaming about but with only the intention to kill and eat the flesh and brains of their victims. Both have their moments in various movies over the years.

'Revenge' features the former zombie type, although, these are particularly goofy looking and would look more at home in an old time freak shows as geeks as they bite the heads off chickens. One black zombie named Lazarus with his wild hair, looks like a young Don King.

As to the plot, the evil doctor decides to make his wife a zombie along with the others and that's where he makes his mistake. Even though he lets her keep her strappy heels as a nice womanly touch as he turns her into one of the living dead, she's not happy about it.

It all goes horribly wrong and ends in tears, and the moral of the tale must be, never, ever, turn your wife into a zombie, it's just asking for trouble....

The film is interesting enough and it quickly rolls along to a finish, but never rises above it's poverty row origins. Not a patch on any true zombie classics but fun just the same.

well made low budget movie with weak script

[HEFILM · 5/10 · 6 January 2016]

This is surprisingly well made. The direction features quite a bit of camera movement for a quickie, the photography boasts some moody shadows and interesting wide angle lens effects, the swamp graveyard set is cool, and above all it's well acted--with Moreland doing his thing but the rest of the cast giving their all. And the music score is also well done not too much music either--not the wall to wall stock music approach in this film.

There is a lab/montage scene that is pretty elaborate and well done. There is another nice tidy montage to show time passing at a dinner party which has a funny pay off line and the last shot has an unusual pay off as well.

Carradine fans will enjoy his bug eyed entrance into the film but for the most part he plays it pretty straight/sober and he has a kind of memorable exit from the film--not to give it away.

The intentions I guess are mainly comic though it's not all that funny you almost wish they had just gone for serious horror yet it isn't campy for the most part and it's an all professional job.

The script holds it back from becoming above average though it is above average in all departments for this low budget genre of the era. Even the sets though not memorable don't look impoverished and the lab has quite a bit of gear in it.

The direction really impressed me with always making the most out of every situation--within the restricted scale of the movie.

One interesting thing, and you know this right away, is Nazi scientist Carradine kills and zombifies his wife, she does occasionally speak and they do a kind of interesting hollow sound to her voice. I think this film may be the first of the Nazi dead army plot movies tough it's certainly not the best one.

All said and done on a script level you pretty much get what you'd expect which isn't much but the movie almost won me over and fans of this era of genre films could do a lot better but you could do a lot worse as well.

Feets don't fail me now

[lastliberal · 5/10 · 26 October 2007]

Poor John Carradine. He made a fatal mistake in thinking that he could turn his wife into a zombie and that she would obey his every command. Even dead, the wife is always right.

Carradine starred as Dr. Max Heinrich von Altermann, a NAZI scientist that was trying to develop an army that would not have to eat and would be impervious to bullets for Hitler's army. He should have stuck to men and not tried to use his wife to prove his success. It proved his undoing.

The film also featured the famous Mantan Moreland who, when he wasn't sniffing after the lovely Sybil Lewis, was engaging in the oft criticized stereotypical behavior that he was famous for, including the famous line "feet don't fail me now."

Back in my country I will be exalted as one of the greatest men in history!

[sol-kay · 5/10 · 20 March 2008]

(Some Spoilers) Monogram Pictures long awaited sequel, after two years in the making, to the highly successful 1941 Zombie flick "King of the Zombies". The movie "Revenge of the Zombies" only has Mantan Moreland as Jeff in it's cast from the original film. The rest of the original crew found better things to do with their lives with three dying within three years of "King of the Zombies" release.

The Nazis having the war turn against them decide to create a new secret weapon to steam the tide and thus guarantee their ultimate victory. Working in the swamps and alligator infested Louisiana Bayous Nazi mad scientist Dr.Max Henrich Von Altermann, John Carradine, has created an army of Zombies with his newly deceased wife Lila, Veda Ann Borg, as it's latest recruit.

Using the extract of the poisonous swamp lily to create an army of walking dead Dr. Altermann is now ready to ship out, in a Nazi U-Boat, back to his fatherland Nazi Germany where he can do his work unimpeded from the FBI and US Government Secret Service. It's there that he'll infuse the desperate needs of the German Whermacht with a new source of manpower: Mindless Zombies who are not only immune to bullets and artillery shells but will follow orders without question from their superiors.

All this of course is just a pipe dream on Dr. Altermann's part in that the Zombies are not that cooperative with his mad and insane scheme of world conquest. Their only interested in going back to their eternal rest and not having anything to do with the world of the living.

It's when Dr. Altermann's wife's brother Scott Warrington, Mauritz Hugo, and good friend Larry Adams, Robert Lowery, together with their chauffeur Jeff show up for Lila funeral things start to get a bit weird for everyone involved. Lila just gets up out of her coffin and disappears into the swamps.

It's not until much later that Larry and Scott as well as Jeff realize that the bereaved Dr. Altermann is a Nazi spy trying to do in not only them but the USA as well. Dr. Altermann has since gotten hooked on his naive secretary Jennifer Rand, Gale Storm, whom he wants to take home with him, via U-Boat, to Germany to be his future bride. This all leads to Dr. Altermann's dead wife Lila to get a bit jealous and later have his Zombies together with her give him a taste of his own medicine. An, overdose, way over his head, of a black water bayou cocktail.

Nowhere as good as "King of the Zombies" the movie still has it's moments with mostly Mantan Moreland's, as Jeff, eye bugging and hysterical comedy act. In fact Moreland ends up being the hero by saving Larry from a fate worse then death: In becoming a Zombie. There's also Madame Sul Te-Wan as Dr. Altermann's maid Mammy Beulah who's really the one who gave the mad doctor the idea of creating Zombies in the first place. It's when Mammy Beulah realized just what a low down swine her boss really is that she informed Larry & Co. what to do in keeping form being turned into, with a dose of swamp lily extract, a Zombie. A strong cup of coffee.

I struggled with it, but it's an interesting watch.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 4/10 · 18 October 2023]

Scott Warrington and Detective Larry Adams arrive in Louisiana to mourne the death of his sister Lila, he is shocked to learn that his brother in law, Doctor Max von Altermann, has a very strange plan for his deceased wife.

For 1943 it's somewhat ahead of the curve, two things stand out, the casting and the content. It features a pretty diverse cast, good to see, especially in horror.

I have never really associated the 40's with zombie movies, so it did come as something of a surprise, the trouble is, it's not particularly good. It's pretty slow, it's very dialogue heavy, and the story, though well imagined, is badly realised.

Doctor von Altermann is an interesting one it's fair to say, the typical maniacal villain, one who'd fit in well in one of today's horror thrillers, the archetypal megalomaniacal villain.

Not the finest hour for either John Carradine or Mantan Morland, but there's no denying that the pair have a degree of presence.

Watch it as a curiosity, just don't expect too much.

4/10.

enjoyable

[Cristi_Ciopron · 7/10 · 22 February 2015]

Actually a very funny and pleasant movie, with a Dixie setting where the quick and the living dead seem to coexist even by daylight, also with at least a couple of subplots (a puzzle: the zombie wife's will, and of course the cause of her death; and an espionage subplot also, announced by the march of the zombies at the beginning), immensely helped by a good director, Sekely, and three exciting performances, from people who had all the requisites of movie stars: Carradine (who plays a scientist, a physician, not insane but evil), Moreland and Veda Ann Borg (who gave a bit of dignity even to an ingrate role), but the main plot being a zombie tale, done as comedy and also as SF, our chance to visit a not too dazzling but nonetheless intriguing laboratory; in fact I liked it even better than 'Lady in the Death House', and here the storyline seems fast without being rush (though in the later movie that wasn't an error, since the very nature of the subject, the race against a deadline, imposed it, requested it). But Sekely was one of the masters of the genre; here, filming for Monogram. The sense of humor is genuine, and the style, light, in another unpretentious movie. There are a lot of things I enjoy here.

The visitors don't seem to realize that some of the servants, in fact Lazarus, are living dead. The lovable black chauffeur gets to see other zombies at work, digging dispassionately, as becoming, in the 1st half of the movie. But the script was good, with most of the dialog being appropriate and well written. So, comedy, zombies, mystery, espionage, SF; and just to make a point: 'Revenge …' isn't a zombie drama with humorous relief, but a comedy, it is a comedy that happens to be about zombies, which is another thing altogether. Now in other words: these aren't zombies from a horror movie, but zombies from a SF (and one overtly political, proceeding with the march of the zombies and following with the espionage subplot). The will's mystery is, anyway, dropped; the mean used to murder the wife is explained, perhaps also the need to do it (as the scientist was getting ready for his getaway), but we can only presume that the widower's pretense of not knowing the dispositions in the will was indeed to gull or disorient his guests.

Thank you for reading, if you did.

Dumb AND entertaining at the same time!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 18 November 2010]

Monogram Studios was a very low-budget film company that had a knack for creating dumb movies that still were often entertaining. Cerebral? Never...but fun in a low-brow sort of way. So, if you are looking for William Shakespeare, keep looking for another studio. But, if you like schlocky Lugosi, Carradine or George Zucco films, then this is the studio for you!

Here, we find John Carradine in a couple familiar roles--a mad scientist AND a Nazi!! But unlike the typical insane Nazi scientist, he has come up with a rather unique plan--to create an army of zombies! This way, they Third Reich will have super-soldiers who are impervious to pain and practically unstoppable. Being a really nice guy, he kills his own wife and reanimates her--he's THAT devoted to his goody cause. Into this weird little world of bizarre experiments come a group of do-gooders--including Monogram's king of scaredy-cats, Mantan Moreland. In this movie, Moreland basically plays the same guy he played in the Charlie Chan films--comic relief that occasionally actually helps despite himself! As I said above, this is NOT a film for the intellectually-minded and I am sure the Criterion Collection will NOT be releasing this film any time soon. The acting is occasionally quite bad, the plot silly and the whole thing makes no sense if you think about it....but it's an oddly satisfying B-movie if you like that sort of schlock! So, if you like schlock, then this is very good schlock!!

OUTstanding!

[mschott66 · 9/10 · 24 November 2008]

Who cares if it is what it was supposed to be? It is what it is.

This movie has grown rich in dead pan (P.I.) humor with the passage of time.

Lines like: "I use drive car like this for massa.. when I's alive.".

and.

"(My wife is dead, I assure you.) Approach her and satisfy yourself.".

I mean, you just can't make this stuff up. BTW, Don't mind if ah do.

This thing thinks its not a line until you put a period.

Ten lines.. hmmm.

88 lines by 44 women.

Also, check out Easy Money w/ Dangerfield and Pesci: "His entire body is bloodshot." Oh yaeh!

"I think it imperative that no unholy rites are practised over Von Leydon's body"

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 2 July 2022]

The title implies a far greater sense of purpose than the walking dead actually display in this Monogram quickie. Zombies usually stagger, but this time they orderly march in line, their slow pace presumably compensated for by the fact they work for no wages. They're an emaciated bunch apart from Veda Ann Borg, more unnerving than usual since for once she hardly says a word.

Typical Early Zombie script

[redrkr · 5/10 · 19 January 2015]

John Carradine, the same guy who graces my TV often in Grapes of Wrath, comes off much closer to the mad doctor from Woody Allen's "Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex..." In this case, he's killed his wife and her brother is coming to a Cajun swamp for details. Turns out, he's building a zombie army for the Nazis and she was part of the experiment.

The brother has a detective in two, as well as comedic relief. Mantan Moreland is the sidekick driver who gets to make some wisecracks in the middle of the horror mystery, which I've seen him do in other zombie flicks with pretty much the exact same plot.

My favorite aspect though is the fact that while the zombies generally follow the will of their master, a couple of them are completely self-aware. One of them says, "I drove a car like this.... when I was alive..." There's a feminist twist included too, should any young riot-grrrl band need a sound-byte for their vinyl release.

Not much, except for Mantan.

[youroldpaljim · 2 January 2002]

In this poverty row quickie, John Carradine plays an Axis scientist who is trying to create a zombie army to defeat the Allies in WW2. However, he gets more than he bargained for when he turns his own wife into a zombie.

This Monogram comedy/horror quickie is pretty much zombified itself. Even the big climax isn't much. One scene of Carradine in his lab has some visual flair, but mostly this film is shot in medium. The film only comes to life when Mantan Moreland gets to do his stuff. I'm aware that Mantan Moreland is considered "politically incorrect" by most of today's self illuminated cultural and intellectual elite, but Moreland always gave a professional performance. His comic timing is perfect. Sybil Lewis is quite good as the straight women for Mantan to play off.

Nazi Swamp Zombies!

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 25 December 2013]

After hearing about the sudden death of his sister, a man by the name of "Scott Warrington" (Mauritz Hugo) and two friends named "Larry Adams" (Robert Lowery) and "Jeff" (Mantan Moreland) head out to the Louisiana swamps to find out what happened. But first they meet a doctor by the name of "Harvey Keating" (Barry Macollum) who tells them that after examining the body of "Lila von Alterman" (Veda Ann Borg) he is convinced that she did not die of a heart attack like he was originally told by her husband "Dr. Max Heinrich von Alterman" (John Carradine). Dr. Keating suspects she was poisoned. When they get to the house of Dr. von Alterman they find the body of Lila and discover that she is quite dead. Not long afterward her body disappears and they further discover that there are things going on that are extremely unusual and these discoveries could pose a grave threat to the United States. Anyway, rather than detail the rest of the story and possibly spoil the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a likable film for the most part. One thing I should mention though is that it bears a striking resemblance to a movie made two years earlier called "King of the Zombies". Unlike that movie though this one was made during World War II and features--Nazi swamp zombies! Also included are two attractive actresses named Gale Storm (as "Jennifer Rand") and the aforementioned Veda Ann Borg. Add in some creepiness along with some humor for good measure and this movie manages to entertain fairly well for a B-movie of this type. I rate it as average.

Horrible B Film

[whpratt1 · 1/10 · 26 November 2008]

Always enjoy the Classic Horror films, however, this film was really a big waste of time and if it were not for John Carradine playing the mad man doctor who is able to control human beings through his experiments. This film was made during WW II and John Carradine was a German Nazi working to find a human weapon against the entire world. Bob Steele playing in many roles as a cowboy or gangster and in this picture Bob seemed bored to death with his role in this film and acted like this was his first film. Mantan Moreland, (Jeff) gave an outstanding performance with great comedy which helped keep the audience attention. I hate to criticize a film made in 1943, but this is really a big disappointment. If you like John Carradine and the roles he played as Count Dracula throughout many films during the 1940's, you just might like to watch John doing his best.

REVENGE OF THE ZOMBIES (Steve Sekely, 1943) *1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 3/10 · 23 January 2010]

There is not much to say about this one except that it is probably the worst of the early spate of zombie movies (I may get to watch another one, REVOLT OF THE ZOMBIES [1936], before the month is out). For all star John Carradine's intention of building an army in the service of the Third Reich with them, they are not seen to do much at all!; James Baskett (Uncle Remus from SONG OF THE SOUTH [1946]!) plays their leader, who also serves as Carradine's manservant. Black comic Mantan Moreland reprises his 'fraidy cat' chauffeur role from KING OF THE ZOMBIES (1941), as does the exotically named Madame Sul-Te-Wan as Carradine's housekeeper. Unfortunately for Carradine, his supreme achievement – the zombification of his wife – brings him all sorts of trouble: not only do her relatives turn up at his remote abode/lab to inquire into her sudden death (which means he has to fake a funeral service!) but she actually proves disobedient and indignant, eventually 'persuading' her fellow zombies to rise against their master!! Also involved is cowboy star Bob Steele (still best-known for his bit in Howard Hawks' THE BIG SLEEP [1946]) who plays a U.S. secret agent posing as a Nazi posing as a Sheriff! Thankfully, director Sekely would have much better luck with his next genre effort, THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (1962).

Laughs and eye rolls, a perfect combination for one of the worst war films ever.

[mark.waltz · 1/10 · 6 November 2020]

I'll give the usually hammy John Carradine credit in this wretched Monogram horror movie that mixes Nazis and zombies. He gives a very subtle performance that unfortunately slows down the movie, and had he been his usual melodramatic self, this would have been much more unintentionally, then it ends up being. Carradine is a Nazi scientist who has created the uses of corpses to become German soldiers, and one of the subjects is his own deceased wife, Veda Ann Borg.

Gale Storm and Robert Lowery are caught up in trying to expose his plan with Mantan Moreland degrading himself as a typically scaredy-cat black taxi driver. Then there's Madame Sul-Te-Wan, the aging black character actress always typecast as some sort of voodoo woman who works as Carradine's cook. She gets to be so deliciously over the top that when she's off screen, you can't wait for her to reappear so at least the laughs will return.

This starts off on a perfectly spooky opening scene, with its Louisiana mansion in the foggy and murky swamps a perfect setting for such evil to be taking place. If you can get a good print of this, especially with decent sound, you'll find some enjoyment in it, but there is absolutely nothing in it that represents a believable story or decent script. Moreland becomes a scary cat at the slightest thing, and even his own fine comic talent can't make him amusing.

The lovely Borg as the zombie wife gets a silly Jeanette MacDonald like "Indian Love Call" to chant (and speaks with a weird echo), but doesn't do much else. The film is so silly and the other zombies so outlandish looking yet the structure often boring that this isn't even something I consider calling a cult film.

Rather weak if somewhat enjoyable zombie effort

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 5/10 · 12 July 2016]

Traveling through the bayou, a group intending to investigate the strange causes surrounding his sisters' death stumbles unto a plot by her Nazi-scientist husband to create an army of zombies for the Third Reich and tries to stop him before it's too late

This here gets very little right. One of the few rather enjoyable elements present here is the fact that this one actually manages to spark off one of the earliest attempts ever at integrating the ideas of feminism in a horror film, with the concept of the reanimated wife refusing to follow orders given to her. After being given the backstory about her being of sound mind and relentless free spirit, these characteristics are carried over into her zombified state which exists in spite of his experimentation and formulas sparks a strong state of free will and individualism that's made all the more important due to the idea of it being his wife as a subject for his work that it manages to turn the film into a thinly-veiled allegory about marriage. There's a lot stated here about how their relationship works, and the influx of zombism at the end given a nice gloss-over into this working order which is then further enhanced with the voodoo and chemical experimentations working against him. Aside from this, though there's isn't much else to this one other than a few decent action scenes involving the zombies at work. The opening is easily it's best, as it starts with the creepy silhouettes walking in the dark all the way through to the creature emerging from a coffin in a long, slow and creepy shot, this one works wonders for both it's mystery and great imagery. Likewise, the last big positive is the really fun ending that feels reminiscent of so many Universal attempts by throwing the real action scenes in one spot, from the shifting alliances and full actualization of it's premise all the way to the chase out into the swamps where it really gets some fun to give it's only real positives. This one here only has a couple flaws, but they are major ones. The first one is the film's major boredom from inactivity due to the tendency to do everything with talking rather than anything else to the point where almost nothing happens in here. There's only intermittent scenes relegated to the zombies, yet there's nothing here that devotes any action to the film. This one simply doesn't have any action, and that's what hurts the film. It rarely generates a scenes that keeps the interest going, and at times this makes it feel a lot longer than it really is. The last flaw in the film are it's pathetic excuses for zombies. Those used to more modern fare will have a hard time getting any fear out of these creatures, and they really only serve several scenes. This here doesn't treat the zombies as threats, making them even less frightening. Little screen-time, nonthreatening nature and un-modern behavior from these zombies really destroys this one. These here are what really hurt the film.

Today's Rating/PG: Mild Violence.

Decent Follow Up with Similar Ideas

[Reviews_of_the_Dead · 6/10 · 24 August 2023]

This was a movie that I first learned about when I watched the prequel, King of the Zombies. I knew this was one that I'd get to when I shifted to watching horror from 1943. What intrigued me was to see Mantan Moreland come back along with Madame Sul-Te-Wan. There was at least representation. Other than that, I knew this was a pre-Night of the Living Dead zombie movie.

Synopsis: when Dr. Von Altermann's (John Carradine) wife Lila (Veda Ann Borg) dies mysteriously at his spooky mansion, her friends and relations suspect murder.

Now I'll be honest, I did cut the synopsis down as it gets quite wordy. The information I've kept in is all that we need. The movie itself starts with it being stormy out. We are in Louisiana and near the bayous. Lazarus (James Baskett) makes a call, waking up other zombies. He gives them orders to dig and one to watch over Dr. Harvey Keating's (Barry Macollum) house.

We are following Larry Adams (Robert Lowery) who is trying to figure out what happened to his sister, Lila. She was married to Dr. Max Heinrich von Altermann. From everything that was known, she was healthy and died rather suddenly. This is why he suspects murder. He is here with Scott Warrington (Mauritz Hugo) who is a private investigator. They enlist the aid of Dr. Keating who suspects foul play as well.

They converge on the house of Max. He has a secretary of Jennifer Rand (Gale Storm) who Larry takes a liking to. Max is more than willing to help their investigation. It even seems that her will leaves everything to Larry. This is odd since she is married to the doctor. It is suspected that he is trying to get rid of them.

There is a good reason too. Max, with the aid of Mammy Beulah (Sul-Te-Wan), turned Lazarus and the others we saw earlier into zombies. He then does the same thing to his wife. It turns out that this doctor is working with the Nazis and believes they can turn the tide of the war if they can create an army of zombies that will do whatever they're told. There is a hiccup when Lila refuses to listen to Max. She isn't the only one that wants to help this trio solve what is happening before it is too late.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. I want to bring up about this being a sequel. This is an interesting way to do it and effective. We are getting a similar premise to what we got in King of the Zombies. There is a Nazi that is trying to use zombies for World War II. We have Americans that stumble on the plot and do what they can to stop them. This makes more sense with the brother of a victim coming to investigate what happened. There are other changes as well. This is moved from an island in the Caribbean to Louisiana. Voodoo is practiced in both areas or at least thought to be, so that is believable. I thought what was kept the same and what was changed worked well in the confines of the story.

What I can't give credit for is using the same concept. I loved the idea for King to have a Nazi trying to figure out how to make zombies for the Third Reich. I'm not sure when it was discovered that Adolf Hitler was into the occult, but it fits in line with different things I've heard over the years. It is less creative to use it again a couple years later for another movie. This is a 'poverty row' flick so that make sense.

Before moving away from the story completely, I am glad that this featured black characters. Moreland is used less here, but he is still over the top with the comedy. I like him. They also bring back Mammmy Beulah. She takes on the 'magical negro' character. She knows how to make the elixir for creating zombies. That means she also knows how to counteract it as well. This is slightly racist with things I've learned from Horror Noire, but it is the era this was made. We still see this character today. It doesn't make it easier to digest though. I'll also go over the zombies here. They are voodoo ones. What I did find interesting is that they're referred to as the 'living dead'. I'm not sure if that was used prior to this film.

Next should be the acting. I've already given credit to Sul-Te-Wan and Moreland. I'm glad they were cast here. It is interesting to see Carradine in another starring role this year. He has a great, suave look that translate to him as a villain. Storm was solid as well. She isn't given a lot to work with outside of Max turning his attention toward her. I do like Lowery, Macollum and Hugo as our trio trying to solve the mystery. Borg was good as a zombie. Credit to Baskett as well as the others for being these monsters. One last person to credit is Bob Steele as the sheriff. There is a commentary there about corrupt local officials as it looks like he's a henchman for Max. That message still fits today. I'd say that overall, the acting here is solid across the board.

All that is left to go into is filmmaking. Since this is a 'poverty row' film, the cinematography is fine. I did like the setting of the bayou of Louisiana. There is something creepy about it and desolate. That works especially when the storm rolls in. Another setting is Max's house. I did like the slight elements of the 'old dark house' and trying to find his laboratory. The effects we get are limited. That is also due in part to the era. I also thought the soundtrack was fine. I did like the call that was made for the zombies. There is an eerie factor there.

In conclusion, this movie is fine. This is a sequel in name only. It borrows elements like the Nazis trying to learn to create zombies for WWII and being in an area where voodoo is found. Other than that, there isn't continuity between the two. I do wish that this would do a bit more to set itself apart. The acting is fine. Credit there to Carradine, Moreland and Sul-Te-Wan as the bright spots. The rest fit for what was needed. This is made well enough. It doesn't do much to stand out though either. I'd only recommend this to fans of this era of cinema or you're out to see historical zombie films.

My Rating: 6 out of 10.

An army of zombies? Propaganda or prophecy?

[shaun_torpey · 5/10 · 2 August 2006]

Well, I didn't think it was as bad as all that and at 60 minutes, what have you got to lose?! John Carradine is on excellent form, acting with his eyes as if it was a silent film and as for the rest, it's what you'd expect for 1943, black and white and a 'single reeler.' The duration does, in fact, suggest that it could well be a product of Hollywood's war-time propaganda machine as the heroes attempt to thwart a Nazi scientist's attempt at creating the perfect army.

An army that won't stop at anything, least of all to question its leaders must be the ideal megalomaniacal construct and one which modern-day leaders probably wish they'd thought of! Sure, it's not Gone With The Wind and it does contain similar racial stereotyping (superbly played and providing some lighter moments) but it remains what must surely be the only cinematic fusion of Haitian voodoo ritual and fascism.

I think Hitler would have loved the idea, if only he could have accepted a multi-race force! I feel his loss is cinema history's gain.

great movie

[meashley · 10/10 · 4 June 2022]

The comedy is this movie was wicked funny as well. Moreland being my second favorite actor of all time. Every movie he is in he does great in my opinion. Of Course, my first favorite being John Carradine. With those facts alone this was a terrific movie. I found the acting could be a bit better. Overall wonderful movie though.

10/10.

Better than it could have been.

[parry_na · 6/10 · 3 March 2019]

Revenge of the Zombies (1943) With a running time of an hour, there's no time to mess about: the 'chills' start as soon as the opening credits have rolled. Zombies - in actuality, middle-aged men with no shirts - are being summoned and put to work making wooden coffins. What else?

Robert Lowery, who went on to play the self-satisfied hero of 'The Mummy's Curse' for Universal a year later, is far more agreeable here as Larry Adams; Bob Steele is The Sherriff. Madame Sul-Te-Wan and Mantan Moreland play the servants - questionable casting now given their ethnicity, but it's a fact that they completely steal every scene they are in. The mad scientist, Dr. Max Heinrich Von Altermann no less, is played by suave but unimposing John Carradine, who went on to play Dracula, also for Universal, over the next couple of years. He plays the Nazi straight and, although clipped, is bad-tempered rather than sinister (Where is Bela Lugosi when you need him?). Altermann's wife Lila (Veda Ann Borg) is an undead example of his experimentation. An unnerving echo effect has been applied to her voice on the rare occasions that she speaks.

Considering this is a 'quickie', a low-budget Monogram production, it could be a lot worse. The sets, both interior and exterior, are full of detail and well lit. The characters, although all rather dull, are competently played. Possibly the weakest link is the story itself which is never as fun or frightening as it could be - although the scenes featuring the somnambulistic Lila have a certain chill about them. The very last scene is a wonderful fourth-wall-breaking moment.

Not much fun

[utgard14 · 4/10 · 12 February 2017]

Cheapie horror comedy from Monogram, a sort of sequel/remake of King of the Zombies. Mantan Moreland was in both pictures playing the same character. There are small differences in the plots of the two films but essentially they're the same - a couple of white guys and their black valet (Moreland) wind up in a spooky old dark house where a mad scientist (John Carradine) is experimenting with zombies for the Nazis. Moreland is an acquired taste but he's pretty much the only person in this who appears to be trying. Even John Carradine looks bored. There's not a lot about this to love. It's not as cheesy or fun as you might hope. As much as I didn't care for King of the Zombies, there were at least some funny moments here and there. This is just blah.