Monogram cheapie (shot in seven days!) starring Bela Lugosi as a doctor who is kidnapping young women to use in voodoo rituals to cure his zombified wife. The things we do for love! Of the many Poverty Row movies Bela made during the 1940s, this is one of the most fun. It helps that in this one Bela has support from fellow horror legends George Zucco and John Carradine. All three contribute greatly to the unintended comedy that makes this such a silly entertaining picture. The hero of the piece is a writer played by Tod Andrews, an actor who played a lot of roles in film and television but who I best remember from an episode of the Andy Griffith Show where he played a jerk. He's kind of a jerk in this, too. There's also some fun character actors playing rubes that add to the humor. Anyway, this is worth a look for fans of Bela or those who like old mad scientist movies. It's nothing that's going to change your life but it might entertain you for an hour. Love that ending.
Voodoo Man
1944
Action / Crime / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Romance / Sci-Fi
Voodoo Man
1944
Action / Crime / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Romance / Sci-Fi
Keywords: mad doctor
Plot summary
Demented Dr. Richard Marlowe attempts to revive his beautiful wife who has essentially been brain dead for twenty years. He uses a combination of voodoo rites, hypnotic suggestion and transferal of life essences from young girls to bring her mind back. In league with a gas station owner, he determines that they are travelling alone and then kidnaps them with a fake detour. He makes their cars stall before imprisoning them until a life essence transfer attempt. Each failure creates another "zombie" in his retinue. He tries once too often and gets a young woman who picks up a stranded motorist between the gas station and the detour. The man not only knows learns who the girl is, but eventually recognizes where she disappeared. In tracking her down, he inadvertently introduces Marlowe to his fiancee as another possible candidate. He and the sheriff show up at her voodoo transfer ceremony.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
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"Somewhere there must be a girl with the perfect affinity..."
Silly but enjoyable nonsense.
"Voodoo Man" is a silly horror film from Monogram Pictures. Fortunately, the film very consciously knows it's silly and because of this, it makes an otherwise stupid film quite enjoyable--particularly at the end.
When the film begins, a young woman is driving all alone--and the evil guy working at the gas station (George Zucco) takes advantage of that. He calls ahead to Dr. Marlowe (Bela Lugosi) and informs him that she is headed his way and Marlowe's henchmen (one of which is John Carradine) set a trap to capture her. Why? Because Marlowe hopes to use voodoo to somehow re-animate his dead wife! After five of these ladies vanish, there are finally some clues--and they point to Marlowe and his gang of weirdos.
This movie is jam-packed with silly mumbo jumbo and silliness. However, and this is important, it never takes itself too seriously and the ending really made me smile. While this film will never earn any high praise from anyone who is sane, it is quite enjoyable escapism despite its many deficiencies.
The Magical Name of 'Ramboona'
Voodoo Man one unintentionally hilarious film done by Monogram has Bela Lugosi a scientist and George Zucco, gas station owner by day and Voodoo Man at night, trying to revive Lugosi's long dead wife Ellen Hall who Bela has kept in a zombie like state. They need the life essence of other young women and Lugosi keeps several on ice, but has to keep getting more. When he kidnaps Louise Currie who is going to her sister Wanda McKay's wedding to Tod Andrews that sets the action of the film in motion
You have to love John Carradine who had one of the great erudite speaking voices ever playing one of two half wit helpers to Lugosi. And how George Zucco was able to keep a straight face while Carradine beat it out on the bongo drum, the magical chant of 'Ramboona' is a great tribute to his ability as an actor. You've got to see Zucco doing his Ramboona chant, you'll be in hysterics.
Voodoo Man does that voodoo that we love so well.