Black Zombie
| Black Zombie | |
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| Directed by | Maya Annik Bedward |
| Written by | Maya Annik Bedward |
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| Cinematography |
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| Music by | David Arcus |
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| Distributed by | Raven Banner Releasing[1] |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
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Black Zombie is a 2026 Canadian documentary film written and directed by Maya Annik Bedward.[2] The film profiles the roots of zombie mythology in Haitian Vodou, exploring the ways in which its evolution from a folkloric metaphor for slavery into a trope of horror and monster fiction have distorted and disrupted Black history.[3]
The film premiered on March 13, 2026, at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival,[4] and had its Canadian premiere on April 24 at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.[2]
In June 2026, Kino Lorber acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[5]
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 20 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10.[6]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com wrote, "Bedward wisely avoids turning Black Zombie into a class lecture. She conducts what were clearly buoyant, informed interviews not just with experts on it but with those influenced by the culture, like, believe it or not, Slash."[4]
Jessi Cape of The Austin Chronicle wrote, "Black Zombie demands you reconsider both the horrors humans are capable of and the untold beauty of the living and the dead. It's the rare documentary you want everyone you know to watch."[7]
Accolades
At the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival, Bedward won the Northern Excellence Award for Canadian Filmmaking.[8]
References
- ↑ "Black Zombie". Raven Banner Releasing, August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Courtney Small, "The Roots of Black Zombie". Point of View, April 26, 2026.
- ↑ Chris Dart, "Zombies aren't what you think they are". CBC Arts, April 22, 2026.
- 1 2 Brian Tallerico, "SXSW 2026: Black Zombie, Serling, Stormbound". RogerEbert.com, March 16, 2026.
- ↑ Nicholas Sokic, "Kino Lorber acquires U.S. rights to SXSW selection Black Zombie". Playback, June 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Black Zombie". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
- ↑ Jessi Cape, "SXSW Film Review: Black Zombie". The Austin Chronicle, March 15, 2026.
- ↑ William Earl, "Fantasia International Film Festival Awards: Hanna Bergholm’s ‘Nightborn’ Wins Top Honor". Variety, July 25, 2026.
External links
- Black Zombie at IMDb