‘An embodiment of white fears’: how zombies went from Haitian spiritual tradition to Hollywood monsters
A new documentary titled 'Black Zombie' explores the historical origins of the zombie in Haitian spiritual tradition and how it was later commodified by Hollywood. The film argues that the modern cinematic zombie serves as a vehicle for colonial erasure and white fears.
Why it matters
It highlights the cultural appropriation and distortion of Haitian Vodou, providing a critical perspective on how media shapes historical narratives.
Still from Maya Annik Bedward's documentary Black Zombie. Photograph: Courtesy of Kino Lorber Still from Maya Annik Bedward's documentary Black Zombie. Photograph: Courtesy of Kino Lorber Documentary films ‘An embodiment of white fears’: how zombies went from Haitian spiritual tradition to Hollywood monsters Maya Annik Bedward’s fascinating new documentary goes beyond reductive imagery to place the zombie and vodou in their true historical context
Prefer the Guardian on Google American film has a canon of racist disinformation that famously includes The Birth of a Nation , King Kong (1933) and Gone With the Wind .
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