Kino Lorber has released a new trailer for ‘Black Zombie’, a documentary set to bite into the history of the zombie genre.
Ever since first laying eyes on George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, I’ve been obsessed with zombies. So, you bet I’m excited to check out Black Zombie, a documentary detailing the history of the subgenre. Kino Lorber has released a new trailer and poster today, promising a film that takes a deep bite out of the origins of the shambling creatures.
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.
In their 5-star review out of Fantasia, Dread’s Caroline Colvin wrote, “Black Zombie is such a smart, nuanced love letter to Haiti, and a delight for cinephiles who are always searching for why horror movies hit so hard.”
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 Maya Annik 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.
