The extent of my knowledge of is limited to the Universal monsters and Tod Browning’s Freaks, the latter of which Criterion expanded my knowledge beyond too. So now it’s time to explore Val Lewton.
I Walked with a Zombie must be among the first zombie movies. It’s the old voodoo idea of a zombie, and because it’s still a new idea to audiences the film immerses the viewer in the Caribbean culture.
The Seventh Victim does a similar thing for satanic cults. It’s set in the city where it’s even more hidden from society.
In 4K UHD, the black and white films showcase the horror in stark contrast. Even before Zombie gets to the forest, the black suits, hair, white snow outside and more sets a stark old Hollywood world.
Even on a boat that’s in a studio with a projected backdrop, they backlot the sailors to show the silhouettes. Then on the island the fields are shrouded in deep darkness.
Again, The Seventh Victim is in the city but it’s still plenty of dark rooms and halls through which characters approach slowly. Then the final chase through city streets shows off all the shadow and street light in degrees of only two colors.
A new Imogen Sara Smith interview runs 47 minutes covering Lewton’s career history and aesthetic analysis. She highlights outsider women as both heroes and victims. She also covers Lewton’s frequent director Jacques Tourneur and the The Seventh Victim’s Influence on Psycho.
The Secret History of Hollywood podcasts are a nice production of industry stories of Lewton hob nobbing. A 2005 documentary, 2005 commentaries and recent PBS Monstrum segment have still more Lewton stories. His career had such depth there’s plenty to learn about him.