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Black Zombie: Unearthing Horror's Colonial Roots
10 Sep
Summary
- Film links zombie genre rise to colonial history and Vodou.
- Maya Annik Bedward's documentary explores the genre's origins.
- The film argues popular fictions recast colonialism's victims as villains.
Filmmaker Maya Annik Bedward's documentary, "Black Zombie," explores the historical and cultural origins of the zombie genre. The film connects the rise of the undead figure in the mid-20th century to Vodou and the legacy of colonialism.
Bedward's work highlights how French colonialists vilified diasporic religious practices. In the post-slavery era, labor demands on sugar cane companies allegedly left workers "devoid of our spirit."
The documentary travels through Haiti, Montreal, Paris, and Hollywood. It uses a blend of movie clips and archival footage to argue that popular culture has transformed colonialism's victims into villains.
"Black Zombie" examines the genre's evolution, from early depictions like "White Zombie" to George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" and contemporary films. It features insights from literary scholars, musicians, and horror authors.
A ritual dance performance by Haitian choreographer Erol Josué in the ruins of a sugar plantation offers a moment of "metaphysical justice," as described by Yves-Grégory Francois. This performance aims to beckon spirits and viewers towards healing.
