The engrossing new dramatic horror film from French writer-director Bertrand Bonello is one that may conjure up a certain image based on the title alone, but it is important that you pay attention to the spelling to avoid unhelpful expectations. Zombi Child is not another run-of-the-mill flesh eating affair, but instead an exploration into Haitian culture and a reflection on colonialism and appropriation. Zombis in this context are typically defined as undead corpses who are summoned back to life by Vodou or some type of ritual and forced to live their blank existence toiling away in this world. While there is certainly a sense of dread throughout the film, and the finale injects some effective horror into the narrative, Zombi Child should not really be classified as a horror film. Based loosely on the real-life account of Clairvius Narcisse, a Haitian man who was said to have been turned into the walking dead, the film follows dual narrative threads that attempts to expand what we know about Haitian culture while using it to make the audience supremely uneasy.
The film begins in the past in 1962 as a young Haitian man, Clairvius (Mackenson Bijou), unexpectedly falls dead in the street. After his family mourns him and buries him in the cemetery, he is resurrected and sent to work in the sugarcane fields without any knowledge of his previous life. Not much is known about this particular operation, only that Clairvius is not alone in shuffling around mindlessly in this dreamlike locale as he is subjected to backbreaking labor. This is the supposed fate that has befallen so many before him. It is only through echoes of his humanity that he sets out on a quest back to his mortal self. This portion of the film is peppered throughout the larger narrative as a way to showcase the well of history from which the Haitian people draw. On its face, this is not a story that is going to keep you up at night, but its steady execution and accompanying unsettling score nonetheless keeps you on edge.
If the past feels more like a dream, it is in the present where things appear subtly nightmarish. We are transported from 1960s Haiti to modern day France where Clairvius’ fictional granddaughter Mélissa (Wislanda Louimat) is attending an elite boarding school. Mélissa is the only black girl in school, and her eccentricities have not led to much in the way of friendship. She is a quiet girl who takes things slowly without concern, a pace which the film adapts to in its delivery. Many believe her to be odd, but she is the subject of fascination for white classmate Fanny (Louise Labéque). They share a slightly off-kilter attraction to darkness, but Fanny has the benefit of a close-knit group of friends who accepts that she is the quirky one of the group. Fanny is not altogether an evil or uncaring person, but she is fully immersed in the self-absorption that comes with youth. She is the type of person who blithely spouts philosophical thoughts without really having a handle on what it means. She is obsessed with communicating with a long-distance boyfriend who is so removed that you begin to wonder if he even exists. She is ignorant to the world, and she cannot see when she is being harmful to herself or others.
When Fanny convinces her friends to invite Mélissa into their little sorority, you feel a mixture of happiness that Mélissa has a connection to her peers and trepidation over if they can be the friends she deserves. With these new connections come a new form of alienation for our dear protagonist; Mélissa has been accepted into this new group, but they are generally disinterested in who she is, where she comes from and how that impacts her. The more her cultural identity gets ignorantly stifled, the more it seems poised to creep up. The girls start noticing some odd behaviors from Mélissa; she is spaced out, there are otherworldly guttural noises coming from her bathroom stall, etc. When Mélissa finally starts to reveal more about her history and connection to Vodou with her new friends, there are varying reactions from minor fear to utter fascination. After suffering heartbreak, the self-involved Fanny seems to believe that her friend’s heritage could be the key to healing the unceasing pain she feels. As is typical for white people, the thoughtless girl wades into a culture she does not understand to exploit it for her own needs. The film may have been simmering in tension up until this point, but the last twenty minutes turns up the heat in a way that is extremely satisfying.
Zombi Child is a film that deftly explores the clashing of cultures while attempting to somewhat shine a light on some of the racist depictions of Voodoo and Haitian culture that have been bandied about over the years. As this is a film made by a white man, the effectiveness and altruistic nature of the illumination is debatable. By trying to comment on appropriation, he may have fallen into that web himself. Nevertheless, the parallel narratives offer up a lot of food for thought that is steeped in an unsettling atmosphere. The film is extremely ambitious with the commentary it is trying to deliver, and it does not always land every point effectively. At the end of the day, though, these narratives come together in such a way that you leave satisfied. The young performers are simply incredible in their roles in a way that keeps you transfixed even during the slower moments. This is a languidly paced film, but those who stick with it will be rewarded a haunting story that you will not soon shake.
Video Quality
Zombi Child comes to DVD with a 480p transfer that is fairly strong for the format considering its technical limitations. This DVD offers up a decent amount of detail in close up shots. Compression artifacts are present without being overwhelming. Black levels are subject to a small amount of blocking. A large portion of the film takes place at night or in shadows, and interior settings hold up better than the open air day-for-night shots. Colors are nice and fairly vibrant, especially in the final stretch of the film with the ceremonies. Skin tones look natural, and there are some decent facial details present. This presentation is pleasing for the DVD format.
Audio Quality
The DVD comes with a Dolby Digital 5.1 track in the original French that sounds pretty excellent. There are optional English subtitles available. The movie is mostly dialogue driven with some unnerving sounds throughout including chanting and moaning. Near the end, there are moments of intense sound from terrifying moments and manipulated vocals that fill the room. The film makes good use of panning effects to convey a sense of place. Environmental sounds such as animals and wind come through well in the side and rear speakers. Dialogue is crisp and clear without being clipped by the score or various sound effects. This is not a film that digs deep on the low end, but it is not completely ignored. Overall, this track does a fantastic job representing the film.
Special Features
The inside cover of the DVD features a paragraph from Film Movement explaining why they chose to acquire Zombi Child along with a brief excerpt from an interview with director Bertrand Bonello in which he gives some brief insights into the film. The on-disc features are as follows:
- Commentary: Director Bertrand Bonello gives a very informative commentary track in which he discusses the origin of the film, the real life vs. fictionalized elements of the story, shooting at a real-life voodoo ceremony and more. There are patches of silence throughout, but the anecdotes he provides when he does speak are very interesting.
- Child of the Sky: A 16-minute short film from director Phillip Montgomery is included here about a young woman who wakes up naked and lost in the desert and soon finds refuge with an odd woman that may prove not to be the sanctuary she needs. This is a mostly dialogue-free affair with some moments of narration. This is not connected to Zombi Child, but they have similar feelings that make for a very entertaining and creepy viewing experience.
- Trailer: A two-minute trailer that is truly creepy and effective in getting you invested in the film.
Final Thoughts
Zombi Child may not be a horror movie through and through, but it is incredibly engaging with a thrilling dose of horror when it counts. The young actresses at the center of the film do a wonderful job of bringing these nuanced characters to life. This exploration into Haitian Voodoo culture and Western society’s relationship to it is equal parts thoughtful and entertaining. Film Movement has provided a DVD with a strong A/V presentation within the context of the format along with some worthwhile special features. Those with an interest in arthouse horror should not miss this one. Recommended
Zombi Child is currently available to purchase on DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.
Disclaimer: Film Movement has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
