Was really into the setup for the story at the beginning, but it quickly devolves into some ugly prejudiced tropes which make it hard to enjoy the movie. Lon Chaney is great here and the movie itself is visually striking when it’s showcasing shots of nature, but it’s very hard to get past the naked racism on display here

Was really into the setup for the story at the beginning, but it quickly devolves into some ugly prejudiced tropes which make it hard to enjoy the movie. Lon Chaney is great here and the movie itself is visually striking when it’s showcasing shots of nature, but it’s very hard to get past the naked racism on display here

West of Zanzibar is a difficult film to review as it has in terms of subject aged quite poorly in many regards, yet it’s such a uniquely atmospheric film for its time. 

I think it’s more interesting than anything else, but it still is incredibly engaging even if it doesn’t hit every note. Tod Browning, Lon Chaney and Mary Nolan are all talented people, though this isn’t their best work. 

I’m glad to have seen it as it never felt like a waste of time, but it’s understandably not Browning’s most remarkable film.

West of Zanzibar is a difficult film to review as it has in terms of subject aged quite poorly in many regards, yet it’s such a uniquely atmospheric film for its time. 

I think it’s more interesting than anything else, but it still is incredibly engaging even if it doesn’t hit every note. Tod Browning, Lon Chaney and Mary Nolan are all talented people, though this isn’t their best work. 

I’m glad to have seen it as it never felt like a waste of time, but it’s understandably not Browning’s most remarkable film.

It's really quite a shame. Some of this movie is legitimately some of Lon Chaney's best work, particularly with his confrontation scene alongside Lionel Barrymore. But the rest of it just reeks with its 1920s African exoticism, with its racist portrayal of Africans as "cannibals" just so incredibly cringeworthy. If the plot was its own thing, detached from all the racist exoticism, this could be a great heartbreaking revenge melodrama. But as it stands, it's just mostly an uncomfortable experience.

It's really quite a shame. Some of this movie is legitimately some of Lon Chaney's best work, particularly with his confrontation scene alongside Lionel Barrymore. But the rest of it just reeks with its 1920s African exoticism, with its racist portrayal of Africans as "cannibals" just so incredibly cringeworthy. If the plot was its own thing, detached from all the racist exoticism, this could be a great heartbreaking revenge melodrama. But as it stands, it's just mostly an uncomfortable experience.