This week The Criterion Collection offers an atmospheric double feature of two 1943 films produced by Val Lewton for R.K.O., I Walked with a Zombie and The Seventh Victim. Lewton made an immediate impact on the cinema scene a year prior with his atmospheric sensation Cat People, directed by Jacques Tourneur. Cat People (which has also previously been released by Criterion) established what became synonymous with Lewton’s style (though the contributions of Tourneur and cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca should not be overlooked), combining psychological horror with elements of film noir. Viewers hadn’t seen anything quite like it before: dreamlike visuals, deep shadows, mature themes, and unseen dangers. More deliberate and artful than the other monster films of the era, but no less engaging.

I Walked with a Zombie and The Seventh Victim follow in a similar vein, and I can see why Criterion chose to pair them together. Besides carrying forward the “Lewton style” and bleak endings established with Cat People, these films also share a particular triumvirate of main characters: a female protagonist, a married man who serves as a romantic interest, and that man’s wife who is imperiled or a victim, and emotionally or physically unavailable as a result.

I Walked with a Zombie (1943) – directed by Jacques Tourneur

Lewton and director Jacques Tourneur immediately followed up Cat People with another collaboration, this time transporting viewers to a small island in the Caribbean.

Like White Zombie and other (pre-Romero) zombie films of the era, I Walked with a Zombie is about the classic Hatian-style or voodoo-based zombies, quite different from the modern conception of reanimated corpses hungry for flesh and brains.

Nurse Betsy Connell (Frances Dee) arrives on San Sebastian Island, newly employed by plantation owner Paul Holland (Tom Conway) to care for his wife Jessica (Christine Gordon), who has catatonic symptoms. Although mobile, she is generally nonresponsive and completely nonverbal, her unblinking eyes vacant and disengaged.

As Betsy becomes more familiar with the island and its denizens, she takes greater interest in the local religious practices and consider whether her patient’s state is tied to – or could be cured by – the mysterious and foreign power of voodoo.

Despite its sensational title and voodoo themes, it’s a pretty grounded and character-driven little film that is steeped in atmosphere and mystery, often deepened by the haunting sound of distant drums that fill the night air. The film even treats the subject of voodoo with some level of realism. This was an era in which films would easily devolve into offensive and racist theatrics, but the depictions of voodoo were based on research and not just the filmmakers’ imaginings. The film does zero in on the fear of “otherness” and in particular the frightening depiction of a tall, black zombie with ghoulish features – but not, my opinion, offensively so.

The Seventh Victim – directed by Mark Robson

Upon learning of the disappearance of her older sister Jacqueline (Jean Brooks), Mary (Kim Hunter) returns home from boarding school and sets out to find her lost sibling.

The film follows Mary’s investigation as she learns that her sister’s disappearance is no simple matter, and she gets pulled into a swirl of baffling clues, dangerous villains, and helpful allies. It’s quickly apparent that Jacqueline got herself in some sort of trouble, and the closer that Mary gets to finding her, she may be putting herself in harm’s way as well.

Without imparting too much detail, there’s a conspiracy afoot, and of a surprising nature.

The film’s twisty last act shifts perspective to focus on Jacqueline, as the rest of the story plays out from her perspective, leading to a shocking ending.

Melancholic, suspenseful, and beautifully shot, the film reminds me of some other noir films of the era, the swirling mystery of Phantom Lady, and the woman in unusual peril in My Name is Julia Ross. This is a story that pulls you in, and benefits from being populated with enjoyably watchable characters against an oppressive sensation of unknown peril.

The Package

Val Lewton’s I Walked with a Zombie and The Seventh Victim share a Criterion edition as a double feature, spine number 1236. The booklet is a 2-sided “flipper” with I Walked with a Zombie on one side and The Seventh Victim on the other, containing essays “Better Doctors” by Chris Fujiwara and “The Inner Darkness” by Lucy Sante, respectively.

I’m reviewing the 2-disc 4K edition which includes both a 4K disc of the films as well as the Blu-ray disc containing both films and the extras. (Note all screenshots in this article are captured from the Blu-ray disc).

These are gorgeous films, notable for Lewton’s noirish style full of dreamlike imagery and incredible lighting and shadows. The restorations are wonderfully done, showcasing this style handsomely.

Both films feature new 4K restorations from nitrate original camera negatives, information about which is detailed in the booklet.

Special Features & Extras (Blu-ray Disc)

• Feature Audio Commentaries:
  • Kim Newman and Stephen Jones on I Walked with a Zombie
  • Steve Haberman on The Secenth Victim

• Deliver Us from Evil: Imogen Sara Smith on I Walked with a Zombie/The Seventh Victim (47:00)
  Film historian discusses parallels in the two films as well as both films individually, with great depth and insight: topics include their style and place in film history, use of female characters, and the filmmakers’ careers. Some of her most interesting observations concern the depictions of race and voodoo in I Walked with a Zombie.

• Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy (53:24)
  This 2005 documentary features many familiar filmmakers and historians, as well as Lewton’s son. They discuss Lewton’s legacy and impact, covering a lot of ground including his career in prior to filmmaking, characteristic style, collaborations and friendship with Boris Karloff.

• “The Origins of the Zombie from Haiti to the US” (12:42)
  Excerpted from an episode of the PBS documentary series Monstrum, covering zombiism and voodoo

• Audio essays from The Secret History of Hollywood podcast
  • Jean Brooks (53:14)
  • Tom Conway (1:09:53)

• Trailers
  • I Walked with a Zombie (1:04)
  • The Seventh Victim (1:14)

A/V Out

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I Walked with a Zombie / The Seventh Victim – 4K UHD Blu-ray | Blu-ray

Except where noted, all 16:9 screen images in this review are direct captures from the Blu-ray (not 4K) disc with no editing applied, but may have compression or resizing inherent to web formatting.