Stranded in the Caribbean, three travelers face sinister spies, a mad doctor, and a horde of zombies.
KING OF THE ZOMBIES
HUMAN SACRIFICES! SAVAGE TORTURE! VOODOO RITES!
On a spooky island, three stranded travelers find an evil doctor working with foreign spies and in control of zombies.
Where else can you see a Capelis XC-12 and zombies in the same movie?
Mixing mad science with spy intrigue and a dose of comedy, King of the Zombies delivers B-movie chills and chuckles. Mantan Moreland steals scenes as the nervy valet, while the island’s mansion comes with a physician whose bedside manner involves the undead. If you like your zombies with a wink and a wartime twist, this one’s for you.
— SassyFlix Programmer
King of the Zombies is a 1941 American adventure-comedy-horror film directed by Jean Yarbrough about three travelers who crash-land on a remote island and encounter an evil doctor, foreign spies, and zombies.
Synopsis
The quick-witted yet easily frightened manservant soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies, and confirms this with some of the doctor's hired help. With the help of Barbara Winslow (Joan Woodbury), the stranded group begins to find out what mysterious events are taking place in the mansion.
Exploring, the group stumbles upon a voodoo ritual in the cellar. It is being conducted by the doctor, who is in reality a foreign spy, trying to acquire war intelligence from a captured US Admiral whose aircraft had crashed in a similar fashion on the island. McCarthy comes under the doctor's spell but Summers comes to his aid. Information is being transmitted to Barbara, but Summers stops the ritual. The interruption causes the zombies to turn on their master. Sangre shoots the pilot but falls into a firepit and dies. With Sangre dead, all the zombies are released from the doctor's spell.
Why Cult
This film blends gags and scares, with Mantan Moreland’s quick-witted valet navigating supernatural chaos and suspicious hosts.
Not just zombies—foreign spies and mysterious radio signals add an espionage angle to the tropical terror.
Dr. Miklos Sangre’s evil experiments provide classic mad doctor thrills in a remote mansion setting.
Questions from the Vault
What is King of the Zombies about? +
King of the Zombies follows three travelers who crash-land on a Caribbean island and encounter an evil doctor, spies, and zombies while seeking refuge in a mysterious mansion.
When was King of the Zombies released? +
King of the Zombies was released in 1941.
Who directed King of the Zombies? +
Jean Yarbrough directed King of the Zombies.
How long is King of the Zombies? +
King of the Zombies has a runtime of 67 minutes.
What genre is King of the Zombies? +
King of the Zombies is an adventure, comedy, and horror film.