Revolt of the Zombies

"Rise of the Zombies" (orig. "Revolt of the Zombies") – American horror film, released in 1936. 

This is one of the earliest zombie films, which was originally conceived as a free continuation of the moderately successful film "White Zombie" (1932), made by the same director, but this promotion was prevented by a court injunction.

The film is in the public domain.

On the Franco-Austrian border during the First World War, an oriental priest, a chaplain of a French colonial regiment, is sentenced to life in prison for his ability to turn people into zombies. In his prison cell, the priest is about to burn a parchment depicting the secret of zombification. General Mazovia kills the priest and takes the partially burned parchment.

After the war, an expedition of representatives of the allied countries is sent to Cambodia to find and permanently destroy the so-called "secret of the zombies". The group includes General Mazovia; Armand Luk, a linguist who studies dead languages; Clifford Grayson, an Englishman; General Duval and his daughter Claire.

Armand falls in love with Claire, who accepts his marriage proposal to spite Clifford, whom she really loves. However, in search of solace after the accident, Claire runs to Cliff, and Armand breaks off the engagement, giving her the opportunity to marry her lover. Continuing accidents staged by Mazovia lead to local residents refusing to work, forcing the expedition to return to Phnom Penh. In the photographs of the reliefs of Angkor Wat, Arman finds a previously lost clue and returns to the abandoned city against orders.

After witnessing an ancient ceremony in the temple, Armand follows one of the high priest's servants through the swamp to a mysterious bronze door. As the servant leaves, Armand passes through a door into a bronze-paneled room with an idol holding a gong. He accidentally strikes a gong, and a panel opens in the wall, revealing a small metal plaque. Armand translates the inscription and realizes that this is the secret that everyone has been looking for for so long. Now he has the power to turn people into zombies. She begins with her own servant, then uses her abilities to win the love of the fickle Claire.

The zombies in the film are ordinary living people who inhaled the smoke formed during a special ritual as a result of burning a special mixture of herbs. Information about the ritual that allows you to turn people into zombies (in the film they are sometimes called "human-robots") is found in the images on the walls of Angkor Wat.

The will of the zombie is controlled by the one who performed this ritual. For an undisclosed reason in the film, a person who performs a ritual by inhaling the same smoke does not turn into a zombie.

Zombies are not able to think independently, make decisions or perform any actions. However, the owner can order the zombie to "behave like an ordinary person", and he will fully match the image. The film shows zombie soldiers who are not harmed by shots (or, at least, do not interfere with the continuation of the battle).

The "master" controls the zombie from a distance, putting his fist to his forehead (in the area of the third eye) and formulating a mental order. One person can control many zombies, but he must constantly control their actions by mental concentration. Otherwise, they can free themselves, realize what has happened, and kill their master in a fit of rage.

To free a zombie from its influence, the owner only needs to mentally say this, meaning one zombie or all at once. The liberated person immediately regains consciousness and control over the body. At the same time, he remembers everything that happened before he became a zombie, as well as what happened after losing control of his body and mind.