A new documentary on the evolution of zombies titled ‘Black Zombie’ is set to rise in theaters this September.
When people think of zombies, they often attribute the creature to George A. Romero and his franchise begun by Night of the Living Dead (never mind that his undead were originally referred to as “ghouls”). Despite that, Romero didn’t invent the term. Zombies and the concepts around them have been around for ages, evolving throughout the centuries. And now, a new doc is on the way from Maya Annik Bedward titled Black Zombie, detailing the origins and evolution of zombies.
The documentary traces the zombie from Haitian spiritual traditions and colonial history to its transformation into one of horror cinema’s most recognizable monsters. Rather than treating the zombie simply as a flesh-eating ghoul, Black Zombie examines the figure’s deeper cultural meaning as a symbol tied to slavery, stolen agency, survival, and resistance.
The film reconsiders titles including White Zombie, Night of the Living Dead, and The Serpent and the Rainbow, while combining archival footage, vérité scenes, and interviews with cultural historians, artists, and genre figures. Interview subjects include Yves-Grégory François, Mambo Labelle Déesse, Slash, Tom Savini, and Zandashé Brown.
Black Zombie is written and directed by Bedward, who also produces alongside Hannah Donegan and Kate Fraser. Executive producers include Jennifer Holness, Michael Paszt, Andrew Thomas Hunt, James Fler, and Slash.
Kino Lorber will release Black Zombie in limited theaters on September 11th, followed by digital and physical releases.
