The Living Dead (1934) - Not really a zombie movie, but still weird

You should probably know right away that this isn't a zombie movie in the way we think of them now. If you're looking for guts or people eating brains, you are going to be very disappointed. 🧟

This is for the people who love those dusty, slightly creaky British thrillers from the thirties. If you hate slow talking and lab equipment that looks like it was made of cardboard, stay far away.

The whole thing centers on a scientist who has a formula to put people into a trance. He calls them 'the living dead' but they mostly just look like they’ve had a really long day at the office and need a nap.

It’s funny seeing Errol Flynn in this because he hasn't quite figured out how to be a movie star yet. He’s just a young guy in a suit, looking a bit stiff, though his mustache is already putting in a lot of work. 👨🏻‍𝬚

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Living Dead (1934) through its definitive frames.

There is this one scene in the lab where the lighting is actually pretty cool, casting these long shadows that make the movie feel much more expensive than it actually was. But then someone starts talking again and the spell is broken.

The pacing is all over the place. One minute they are rushing to solve a mystery, and the next, two guys are standing in a hallway talking about absolutely nothing for three minutes straight.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main actors. In one shot, a guy in the back looks like he’s trying really hard not to sneeze while the 'mad scientist' explains his evil plan.

It’s definitely a better sit than something like The Phantom Horseman which just drags. But it doesn't have the weird energy of Dynamite Smith.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Living Dead (1934) through its definitive frames.

The weird stuff I noticed:

• The scientist’s lab has these glass tubes that don’t seem to be connected to anything.
• Every time a 'zombie' appears, the music gets really loud for no reason.
• The dialogue is so polite, even when people are being kidnapped.
• Errol Flynn’s hat is always perfectly straight, no matter what.

There is a moment where a character gets put into a trance and his eyes just sort of glaze over. It reminded me of how I felt during the middle of Turning the Tables. Just totally blank.

I think the movie gets a bit more fun once the scientist starts getting truly desperate. He has this wide-eyed look that is actually a bit creepy if you catch it in the right light.

The ending feels like they ran out of film or maybe the actors had a bus to catch. It just sort of... stops. No big speech, no real wrap-up, just 'okay, we're done here.'

If you like seeing how 1930s cinema tried to do 'horror' before they had any real special effects, it’s worth a look. Just don't expect it to be as tight as Double Dealing.

It is a clunky piece of history, but it's got a certain charm that modern CGI stuff lacks. 🎞️