Starring Gregg Palmer, Allison Hayes, Autumn Russell, Joel Ashley, Morris Ankrum
Directed by Edward L. Cahn
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
An expedition arrives at an African island to dive for a legendary cache of diamonds, only to find the stones protected by zombies, who are frighteningly real.
Although modern audiences might find the zombies here a little tame, as there's no blood or gore on screen, I've always enjoyed this film, and the expressionless zombies are effective enough. Cahn's direction keeps them menacing, particularly during close-up attacks. Unfortunately, the underwater sequences are clearly filmed dry for wet and don't come off as well. Hayes, playing the bold wife with a yen for her abrasive husband's diver, is fun to watch, particularly after she becomes a zombie victim, and Majorie Eaton is enjoyable as the aged widow of one of the zombies, sternly warning the rest of the cast about the danger they're in. Palmer, playing the noble diver, is an acceptable lead, Russell makes a beautiful love interest, and dependable character actors like Ankrum and Gene Roth are appreciated. I wouldn't place this among the great zombie pictures, but it delivers some worthwhile 1950s fun.
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