Review by Swithin

"King of the Zombies" is a fine film. It not only has a coherent, engaging script, it actually adheres to the then current zombie literature, e.g. you musn't give anything salty to a zombie (read Seabrook's "The Magic Island;" or anthropologist Andre Metraux's "Voodoo in Haiti.") It has a great cast, with Mantan Moreland giving a funny but actually wise performance: he's the first one who realizes what's going on. (He even mentions "haints," the ghosts/evil spirits of the Carolina coast.) The film also features a terrific performance by Madame Sul-Te-Wan as Tahama. For her earlier work, Madame was the first African American to receive a film contract from a major studio. Also in the cast is Lee Whipper as Momba. Whipper was the first African American to join Actors' Equity and was also one of the founders of the Negro Actors Guild of America. Other cast members of note include Marguerite Whitten, who is sort of the "straight man" to Moreland in the hilarious dining room scene. (Samantha: "You ain't no zombie. Zombies can't talk." Jeff: "Can I help it cause I'm loquacious?")

It's easy to make fun of this film, or bring up political incorrectness, but it's filled with humor and mystery and was also actually nominated for an Oscar for Best Musical Score. It does indeed have a great score. I first saw the film on television as a child, and the theme has stayed with me ever since.

"King of the Zombies" puts George Romero and other defilers of zombie lore to shame. As Mantan Moreland, who has the last line, says, "If there's one thing I wouldn't want to be twice, zombies is both of them!"