Dr. Roland Gerard (Tom Conway) is a mad scientist living in the jungle with his wife, Susan (Mary Ellen Kay). Gerard has been experimenting with voodoo and modern scientific technology. His aim is to create an indestructible creature that he can control. Gerard is in co-hoots with the local witch doctor, Chakas (Martin Wilkins), using his knowledge of voodoo and his own scientific knowledge to turn a local native girl, Zuranda (Jean Davis), into an indestructible killing machine. His problem is that the subject, similar to someone under hypnosis, will not kill if they do not have the willingness to do so when awake. Gerard needs a new subject.
Meanwhile, explorer Harry West (Norman Willis) is waiting for a guide, Ted Bronson (Mike Connors) to take him North into the Bantalaya country to search for gold. Harry has an idol made from gold and believes there is more where that came from. Marilyn Blanchard (Marla English) and her lover, Rick Brady (Lance Fuller) are trying to learn what Harry is up to. They search his room and find the idol. Harry catches them but Marilyn shoots him. She then has Rick pose as Harry and cons Ted into guiding them through the jungle.
On the way Marilyn tries to seduce Ted, but he’s not interested. Gerard tries to have his monster kill the newcomers, but she won’t and turns back into Zuranda. He dismisses her. On her way back to the village she is assaulted by Rick and gets killed. The witch doctor demands that Rick be killed. Gerard tells Marilyn that he will give her all the gold she wants if she kills Rick. She happily complies. Gerard then takes Marilyn and Ted back to his cottage. Ted will be given to the natives for their upcoming sacrificial ceremony. Seeing that Marilyn has no problem killing someone, he believes that he has his new subject and will be able to create a new monster that he can control and order to kill.
“Voodoo Woman” was released in 1957 and was directed by Edward L. Cahn. It is an American horror film.
Not happy with the original look of the creature, the filmmakers used the same costume that was used for the 1956 horror film “The She-Creature” with some alterations. The person in the monster suit was Paul Blaisdell. The movie was remade in 1966 by Larry Buchanan as “Curse of the Swamp Creature”.
The film got trashed a lot, but I wasn’t totally unhappy with it. There was a lot of standard stuff in it, but it was still better than “Curse of the Swamp Creature” or even “The She-Creature”. I also was pleased with the ending of the film. I don’t think it deserves the bad press. It’s actually entertaining and fits in with most of the guy-in-a-suit monsters from that era.
One of the stars of the film was Mike Connors. Touch Connors was his stage name before he changed it to Mike Connors. His real name was Krekor Ohanian.