Reviews & Ratings for
Black Moon More at IMDbPro »

Page 1 of 2:

[1] [2]

20 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
Intriguing obscurity, 26 December 2004

Author: bru-5 from New Jersey

This film proves that a decent retrospective of the films of Roy William Neill is long overdue. A forgotten horror movie of real merit, BLACK MOON is obscure enough not to be listed in Halliwell's Film Guide but of sufficient interest to have played in New York's Film Forum a couple of years back (where I first saw it on a double billed with ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU!) The plot is right out of "Conjure Wife" with a slight foreshadowing of I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE. A New York socialite (Dorothy Burgess) is haunted by her childhood memories of being brought up by a voodoo priestess in Haiti. Her hope is to free herself from the past by confronting it outright but her plan proves disastrous. Returning to the island, she is promptly elevated to the status of a white goddess among the natives and is soon participating in human sacrifices, eventually plotting against her husband and infant daughter.

I have to admit my enthusiasm for this movie isn't shared by others in my immediate movie circle. The major flaw is that Burgess' transformation into a jungle high priestess is simply glossed over in the script. Indeed, she's off-screen for the better part of the movie. Instead the film focuses on the budding romance of Jack Holt as the harried husband and his secretary (that she's played by Fay Wray is at least a consolation). Still the film works up to an ominous mood, creating a palpable hothouse atmosphere as voodoo drums beat steadily on the soundtrack.

The film played on Turner Classic Movie many years back and is, presumably, in limited circulation. It's dated racial attitudes undoubtedly won't help it get the wider distribution it deserves. It's safe to say that a DVD release is unlikely but the film is worth tracking down.

11 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
good 30s horror flick, 26 January 2006
Author: wastedspace.com/blog/movies from wastedspace.com

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The Castro recently ran a series of movies made by Columbia Pictures before the Hays Production Code went into effect in the 1930s. Compared to the Paramount pre-Codes the Balboa Theater was screening around the same time, the Columbia films were pretty much B-movie fare, but one film in particular stood out. Black Moon (1934), a moody suspense thriller with horror movie overtones, stars Dorothy Burgess as a New York socialite haunted by her childhood memories of growing up on a Haiti-like isle in the Caribbean. Taking her young daughter with her, she returns to visit her uncle—the only remaining white inhabitant of the island—and confront her past. As it turns out, the black natives who took care of her as a child would secretly carry her into the jungle every night to participate in ceremonial voodoo sacrifices, and upon her return as an adult she assumes the role of white voodoo priestess and begins to lead the rituals. Her businessman husband Jack Holt, with secretary Fay Wray in tow, follows her to the island and while attempting to rescue his wife and daughter is besieged by the native voodoo worshippers. The remarkable thing about the movie is its slow oppressive mood, played entirely as a serious drama with little trace of dated campiness. The atmosphere of impending dread and shadowy black and white cinematography reminded me of the original Cat People, filmed eight years later. The black islanders are solemn and menacing without being racial stereotypes, and the voodoo drums beating throughout the movie add to the ominous creepiness. Sort of has the air of an early zombie movie, but without any zombies. Definitely catch it if you get a chance.

13 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Great Fay Wray Voodoo movie, 23 July 2007

Author: Zombie_CPA from United States

What do you get when you mix voodoo, Fay Wray, and Jack Holt? A great but obscure and hard to find gem called Black Moon. I had to get a copy off eBay from someone that burns DVD-R of public domain movies. I was pleasantly surprised in the quality of the DVD. The sound and picture quality were better than most of what Mill Creek puts out. It was not perfect, but it was still very good. It was about the equivalent of a VHS tape.

Now, my review of the movie. Juanita Perez Lane (Dorothy Burgess) was born on the island of San Christopher (Haiti). She escaped the island at the age of two when her parents were sacrificed in a voodoo ritual. She is now an adult and wants to go back to the island. She brings her daughter, Nancy (Cora Sue Collins) her daughter's nanny, and her secretary, Gail Hamilton (Fay Wray). People seem to start getting killed if they oppose her return to the island.

The acting was top notch. Fay Wray did a great job as the lead. Dorothy Burgess and Jack Holt also did fine acting jobs. Cora Sue Collins did fine for a child actress because she managed to not annoy me. This movie is nice to see the women play the main roles and the men play more of a supporting role.

The movie did an excellent job building tension throughout. The climatic scene was awesome and brought great closure to the film. The end was somewhat predictable but still enjoyable. The "natives" did a wonderful job. The voodoo drumming was terrific to build up tension and the "natives" seemed very restless.

Overall, see this movie if you can get a hold of it. Fans of I Walked with a Zombie should like this film.

11 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
What a gem...and, oh, those drums!, 18 February 2006

Author: BorgoPass from The Motor City

I didn't expect too much from this film due to the simple fact that I'd never heard of it, but on a recommendation, I took a look at it and to say that it did not disappoint is an understatement! If you are a fan of 1930's horror films, this one has it all. The incessant background drumming on the island of San Christopher (Haiti) heard throughout 90 percent of the movie is wholly pervasive and will get your heart pumping at an increasingly frenzied pace right up until the closing credits.

This is one of the last of the pre-code pictures and it hold nothing back. Jack Holt, Dorothy Burgess and, especially, Fay Wray give fine performances. No comic relief here; this is all played for horrors and suspense! Director Roy William Neill (of "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" fame) does a commendable job of keeping the pace of the film frantic, yet tight. Too many "zombie" pictures just sort of plod along, but this one (though technically "voodoo", rather than "zombie"-themed) is non-stop, edge of your seat kind of fare.

As a fan of the genre, what a delight to "find" this movie and more so to have it exceed all of my expectations. Fay Wray made several other renown horror films in the 2 year period preceding "Black Moon": "The Most Dangerous Game", "Doctor X", "The Vampire Bat", "Mystery of the Wax Museum", "The Clairvoyant", and, oh yes, a little movie called "King Kong". "Black Moon" holds its own along with all of the aforementioned films.

7 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Black Moon, 10 October 2009

Author: Scarecrow-88 from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Made in the same year as White Zombie, and a few years before I Walked with a Zombie, was Black Moon, a more obscure little chiller directed by Roy William Neill(..most notable for his Sherlock Holmes movies)regarding a New York businessman's daughter in danger of being sacrificed in a voodoo ritual due to his wife's association with San Christopher island natives.

Jack Holt stars as Stephen Lane, the businessman who allows his wife, Juanita(Dorothy Burgess), along with daughter Nancy(Cora Sue Collins), nursemaid Anna(Eleanor Wesselhoeft), and secretary Gail(Fay Wray) to return to San Christopher, her homeland where she grew up under the corrupt influence of Ruva(Madame Sul-Te-Wan)and voodoo priest, Kala(Laurence Criner). Poisoned with their beliefs and power, Juanita becomes their priestess, under the spell of the voodoo drums, Nancy is to be sacrificed at the rising of the full moon. Stephen answers the wire of Gail to come to the island where danger awaits and he will join forces with Dr Raymond Perez(Arnold Korff)who runs a plantation which has been on San Christopher for generations, attempting to cull the restless, hostile natives who have started to stir away from civility due to Juanita's reemergence. Gail, as it turns out, is in love with Stephen and Juanita can no longer escape the beat of the drums, her decision to return home placing her own daughter in jeopardy.

This could be seen as possibly racist as the black natives are evil, willing to do whatever it takes in order to sacrifice someone for the full moon. Any attempt to get Juanita off of the island, or to fight against their influence is met with murder. Anna, who voices her anger towards Ruva when she attempts to nursemaid Nancy, for instance, is found dead in a lava pit nearby the plantation. A message operator, who sends word by wire to other locations, is found hung. Juanita actually attempts to drug Stephen and somewhat willingly offers her daughter(..this is where she actually fights against the voodoo curse which summons her)for potential sacrifice. A revolt entraps Stephen, Perez, Gail, and Nancy in a tower, along with McClaren(Clarence Muse), a black shipboat captain who lost his girlfriend to a sacrificial voodoo ceremony..this ceremony, establishing the frightening lengths the natives would go to appease whatever god they serve, is disturbed by Stephen who attempts to stop the sacrifice by shooting Kala. The suspense is surprisingly built well, using the voodoo drums, often heard in the background, as a constant presence to unnerve the viewer, recognizing the threat and how real it is to the lives of those foreign to the island(..not to mention, Perez, whose death would, in turn, release the natives to overtake San Christopher). Interesting is how the natives are shown in a negative light, but if one dwells on their oppression(..the island being occupied by white man Perez who abusively barks at the natives when they host a welcome party for Juanita)you can see why they would seek to rebel against Perez. Fascinating portrayal by Burgess, her Juanita wrestling with feelings towards both sides, eventually motivated towards the natives and their voodoo, unable to resist. Wray is simply lovely in a supporting role, a kind-hearted soul who wards off her devotion and love for Stephen, her accepting the trip to San Christopher as a favor to him actually saving Nancy's life due to her message for him to come to the island. Some striking B&W photography, including some stunning shots of Burgess, her face emoting the pull of the natives' power. A curio for fans of movies about voodoo and it's use as a weapon..not quite as atmospheric as White Zombie or I Walked with a Zombie, but has it's moments.

6 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Hard to find, but worth the effort, 24 August 2008

Author: kitchent from United States

In my unhealthy quest to see every available Fay Wray film, I picked up a copy of this off of Ebay, and I was very happy I did.

The Good: The film has a very dark mood to it, very much like the later film, "I Walked with a Zombie". Settings and locations are similar, and there are scenes and sets that look a lot like that later film. The overall feeling of doom is here, and the climactic scene is very well done. The scenes of the voodoo ceremonies really shine in this film, and although not a true horror flick, this satisfies with some eerie shots and creepy touches.

The Bad: I am not a Jack Holt fan. In my opinion he is the weakest part of the film. Also, there were some very good shots in the film. Some odd angles with good lighting. There were times, however, when the direction seemed uninspired and timid with this strong material. Almost like two directors had a hand in it.

Overall this is a fine film that deserves a good cleanup and DVD release.

3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Voodoo Island, 10 October 2009

Author: sol1218 from brooklyn NY

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

**SPOILERS*** One of the first films about voodoo and voodoo blood sacrifices to come out of Hollywood that caught the unsuspecting public by surprise. Not only does the film have human sacrifices preformed to the screaming and howling cries and chants of whipped up,to a red hot fury, local island voodoo worshiper's but in many cases these gruesome murders are preformed by the very parents, mostly mothers, or spouses of the victims themselves!

In the movie "Black Moon" we see how voodoo can be implanted into a person's brain at a very young age and drive the person crazy to the point that he or she will murder their own flesh and blood to satisfy their voodoo God. This happens to Juanita Lane, Dorothy Burgess, who's mind had been messed up by voodoo since she was a little girl on the Caribbean island of St. Christopher. Now grown up married and with a little girl of her own Juanita answers the call of her Voodoo God to travel back to St. Christopher from her home in NYC to finish the job that the natives there, who made her a high priestess, demand! Murder by ritual sacrifice her seven year old daughter Nancy, Cora Sue Collis, in a blood voodoo ritual at the time of the next new moon!

The tranquil and beautiful scenery of St. Christopher hide the sheer terror that lies just beneath it's surface in the island's centuries long practice of voodoo. This all come shockingly to light when Juanita arrives there as a guest at her father's Dr. Raymond Perez, Arnold Korff, villa. Dr. Perez unlike his daughter's husband Stephen Lane, Jack Holt, knows the secret behind Juanita's very strange behavior and was dead set against her coming there. With Junita now at St. Christopher she becomes attracted to the very thing that both her father and later husband were trying to get her exorcised from: Voodoo. And it's that strange fascination or addiction that would lead to a native uprising that will threaten the lives of the few remaining whites or foreigners, about a half dozen, still living in St. Christopher including Juanita herself.

***SPOILERS*** Even though the blood-letting in the film is kept at a minimum just the thought of what the movie is all about is enough to make your stomach turn. In the end Stephen finally realizes that his wife is beyond help and has to do the unthinkable in order to save his still unaffected, by the island's voodoo priest Kala (Laurence Criner) and his top aid and little Nancy's nanny Rova (Madam Sul-Te-Wan), daughter Nancy from being sacrificed to the island's voodoo God. Stephen is thus forced to commit an act of extreme violence that even if it was the right and only thing to do on his part he'll be cursed to both live and suffer with what he did for the rest of his life!

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
BLACK MOON (Roy William Neill, 1934) ***, 23 January 2010

Author: MARIO GAUCI (marrod@melita.com) from Naxxar, Malta

Until only a few months ago, I had never even heard of this one – despite the involvement of director Roy William Neill (THE BLACK ROOM [1935]) and the era's foremost "Scream Queen" Fay Wray! Interestingly, it supplies the logical bridge between the distinctive Gothic and psychological backdrops of the two most notable early voodoo-related films – namely WHITE ZOMBIE (1932) and I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943). The atmosphere here is similarly thick, without the need to resort to an actual prowling or possessed creature: indeed, having the lady concerned – very well played by Dorothy Burgess – actively believe in the power of voodoo (that is, until she sees the error of her ways on being asked to perform the ultimate sacrifice!), provides the biggest chill in this case! Incidentally, the two central female characters (with Wray being, naturally, the wide-eyed heroine) not only create the requisite contrast but make up for the rather uninteresting male lead – burly Jack Holt! Perhaps not a classic of the genre, then, but a perfect example of "a film that has fallen through the cracks"; in fact, the copy I acquired is a hazy VHS-sourced recording of an old TCM screening.

3 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Tame Columbia horror offering, 26 July 2010

Author: mhesselius from United States

"I Walked with a Zombie" may not have been the first Voodoo film adapted from Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," which is not surprising when you consider the West Indies was where Edward Rochester courted his mad wife. Perhaps it's a stretch, but "Black Moon" seems to contain several plot elements from Bronte's novel as Stephen Lane—whose West Indian born wife is drifting into madness—forms a close personal bond with his secretary.

When the wife (Dorothy Burgess), under the influence of a Voodoo curse, returns to her childhood home in the West Indies, Lane's secretary (Fay Wray) accompanies her. Lane (Jack Holt) soon follows. Here the secretary becomes a substitute mother for Stephen's child, recalling a similar relationship between Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester's ward Adele. Also, Stephen, like Edward Rochester, can finally have the woman he truly loves only when his wife dies as a result of her madness, in this case leading a native uprising.

Judging from other comments about this being a good example of pre-code horror, my expectations were high. But the director and writers never adequately explored the terror of situations. There are no build-ups of suspense. Things just happen. People are found dead after the fact. Killings and Voodoo sacrifices that happen on-screen are clumsily directed. Nevertheless, performances are uniformly good, the script is literate, and there are a few moments of cinematic art. The print I saw on Turner Classic Movies is very clean; and I was impressed by Joe August's cinematography in the scene in the tower as it filled with smoke from the burning tunnel. The interplay of light and smoke created an eerie atmosphere that I wish had been made more of.

3 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Nice Columbia Horror Flick, 13 October 2009
Author: Michael_Elliott from Louisville, KY

Black Moon (1934)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Twenty-plus years after her parents were murdered in a voodoo ritual, a woman (Dorothy Burgess) travels back to the native land where the people there want her to start up as their leader. The woman's secretary (Fay Wray) wires her husband (Jack Holt) to come and try to save her but it might be too late. This forgotten horror film from Columbia falls somewhere between WHITE ZOMBIE and I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE so fans of those two films will certainly want to check this out. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not a major fan of all three films as I think they all have a great atmosphere but in the end their stories just aren't strong enough to carry the films for me. There's a lot of stuff that does work here with the biggest plus being the atmosphere created by the director. We really get the feeling as if we're on this island surrounded by the strange locals and in the middle of something evil. There's no fog machines but that doesn't keep Neill away from delivering the goods as the dark tone of the film also hits on something that the Val Lewton films would eventually do and that's the use of shadows. Another plus is some fine cinematography as well as a nice performance by Holt. Wray, the original Scream Queen, is good too, although, as usual, she isn't given enough to do. What doesn't work, for one, is the performance of Burgess who is easy on the eyes but her character is badly underwritten. Another problem is the actual screenplay that really doesn't offer any twist or turns up until the very end when the movie does go in a direction that you wouldn't normally expect.

Page 1 of 2:

[1] [2]

Add another review

Related Links