Voodoo Man

'Voodoo Man' is possibly the best of Bela Lugosi's Monogram minor budget films from the early 40's most, but not all, of which we horror films.

A typically brief running time of just a smidgen over one hour keeps things just about brisk enough without lapsing into repetitiveness or filler of people running in circles which are two common maladies of minor budget cheapie b-pics in my experience.

Instead there is a bit of atmosphere and tension generated in a film that centres on a cracking, creaking and cranky set up of a demented mad doctor (Bela Lugosi) organising the abduction and Voodoo exploitation of unaccompanied young women in the service of reviving his zombified wife.

All in all along with a smattering of atmospheric tension there is also a clearly delivered tone of dark, dank, dirty and dangerous human behaviour which puts the horrible into horror.

Of course Bela Lugosi is the centrepiece but he gets some willing support from a game cast.

Added value comes from the playful treatment of the whole idea of 'Voodoo Man' as being utterly sappy nonsense that only a wacky Hollywood scriptwriter hack could sell.

With sly nods to the real silliness at play with references to the films producers and its star early in the piece and then at the very end.

I rate at 5/10 and obviously this rating takes into account that 'Voodoo Man' was a very Poverty Row minor b-picture cheapie/quickie!

I recommend to anyone willing to lend large globs of suspension of disbelief and be as game at the cast. Also to anyone less charitable but looking for a laugh and a hoot.

Having said that some if the broad comedy exchanges are the only real misfires of 'Voodoo Man' for my personal taste although a grim dry humour from Lugosi is nicely included on a couple of occasions!

Monogram's "The Voodoo Man", which not only features George Zucco in his most demeaning, humiliating role as a voodoo priest (Ramboona never fails) but also has John Carradine as an imbecile and Bela Lugosi as a mad scientist of a sort. Bela turns in a pretty good performance as the demented doctor trying to instill life into his amazingly well preserved dead wife through the use of voodoo and some nubile Monogram starlets. Carradine is in there pitching in an embarrassing role. Zucco, as the voodoo priest, is required to wear an absurd costume and chant gibberish in most of his scenes. Being the old pro that he was, he manages to turn in a credible performance. If you are willing to look past the hokum, this isn't a bad way to pass an idle hour.

Sam Katzman and William Beaudine are two of the immortals of Poverty Row,and Voodoo Man is the literal definition the of the movie that is sooo bad that it's a great picture.Katzman's Banner Productions filmed Voodoo Man in 7 days in October of 1943 for Monogram Studios.What sets this apart is the appearance of Bela Lugosi, George Zucco, and John Carradine in the lead roles and all three are at their rip roarin', hammiest, and over the top best in this little horror opus.Beaudine was the acknowledged master of turning out "Economical" but extremely watchable B movies.

Lugosi is the sinister doctor who is channeling Snidely Whiplash. He would twirl his mustache if he had one and yell"curses, foiled again" at every setback. Zucco is a gas station manager and voodoo high priest who scouts out young ladies and potential victims for the doctor and chants an unrecognizable gibberish in the background much of the time. during the transference ceremony. Carradine portrays Lugosi's dimwitted gofer and bongo drum player. In a lesser actors hands the role would be a total embarrassment but Carridine is able to sell it.The scene where Carridine gets a closeup playing the bongo is so over the top that it is classical. His character really believes in the magic of the ceremony.

Micheal Ames AKA Tod Andrews, Wanda McKay,and Louise Currie do a commendable job with their roles, particularly Currie whose character is forced through the voodoo ceremony then wanders the countryside in a zombie like state while wearing flimsy and very sexy nightgown. McKay was a Paramount contract actress who did a lot of screen work for Monogram during the 1940's.Currie was another talented actress who did a lot of work at the B studios in the 1940's. She had worked with Lugosi before in the Ape Man for Monogram.

The plot of Voodoo Man is less important then getting to watch Lugosi, Zucco, and Carridine go through their paces. They could make reading the ingredients to a can of soup sinister fun!Sam Katzman would would have probably made a feature film of them doing it if he had thought of it. With Beaudine directing of course!

Voodoo Man (1944)

*** (out of 4)

Monogram cheapie has Bela Lugosi playing a mad doctor who wants to bring his dead wife back to life. In order to do so he must kidnap women and use voodoo to make their souls go into the body of his wife.

As is to be expected, this is a very silly little film that doesn't have too much of a story going for it but it does have a great cast to keep things moving through its 62-minute running time. I often say that if you want art then Ingmar Bergman is highly recommended but if you just want some fast, fun and cheap entertainment then something like VOODOO MAN is just what you're looking for.

Lugosi is in fine form as the deranged doctor and he manages to deliver yet another good performance. He actually has a very touching scene where his wife returns to him for a few seconds before dying again and Lugosi really gives it his all in his heartbreak. George Zucco is also on hand as the man getting the girls. The scene stealer however is John Carradine as Lugosi's dimwitted slave.

There are a couple sequences, which are just downright hilarious with one showing Carradine playing the drums with the strangest look on his face. Another moment is when Carradine goes to the dungeon to talk with the kidnapped women only to let one escape. In fear, he starts crying that the master is going to beat him and this too is downright hilarious to watch.

All in all there's nothing overly special with this film but it does feature three horror greats and in the end it's fun camp. It's not meant to be taken serious and it's not meant to be examined by high- brow critics.

I found this film to be an enjoyable little effort from monogram I really liked the pairing of Lugosi and Zucco as the villians and also having John Carradine as an evil assistant....pretty much the standard fare you,ll get from most all Monogram films of this genre..but if you enjoy a simple little horror film like I do,this is a great one for a rainy day or a dark night...