Revolt of the Zombies

An Oriental priest, chaplain of a French colonial regiment, is condemned to life imprisonment on the Franco-Austrian frontier during World War I for his power to turn men into zombies. In his prison cell, he secretly prepares to burn a parchment that supposedly contains the location of the secret formula. Guards stand watch as the war rages outside, setting a grim backdrop for his fate.

Before he can reveal the knowledge, General Mazovia arrives, kills the priest, and seizes the partially burned parchment that allegedly holds the key to the 'Secret of the Zombies'. The clue to the mystery falls into Mazovia's hands as the conflict ends or pauses. This act sets up the later search in Cambodia.

In the post-war years, a multinational Allied expedition with colonial interests is dispatched to Cambodia to locate and destroy the zombie secret. The team includes Mazovia, Armand Louque, Clifford Grayson, General Duval, and Claire, who must navigate politics, danger, and rivalries. Their journey centers on Angkor and the legend of the hidden power.

Armand Louque, a student of dead languages, falls in love with Claire. She accepts his proposal to spite Clifford, whom she really loves, complicating the expedition's personal dynamics. The romance introduces emotional stakes that will influence decisions later on.

Following an accident, Claire seeks comfort with Cliff, and Armand breaks the engagement. Leaving Claire free to marry Cliff intensifies the tension within the group and reshapes loyalties among the expedition members.

Mazovia's machinations trigger a chain of accidents that cause the native workforce to refuse to work, crippling the expedition's progress. The team is forced to retreat toward Phnom Penh while tensions rise. The setback underscores Mazovia's control over the local situation.

Armand uncovers a crucial clue he had previously overlooked and decides to return to Angkor against orders. His determination signals a shift from diplomatic pursuit to direct discovery of the secret.

After viewing an ancient temple ceremony, Armand follows a temple servant through a swamp to a bronze doorway. The trail of mystique leads him toward a hidden source of the legend. The journey blends myth with the scientific curiosity of the expedition.

Beyond the doorway, Armand enters a chamber paneled in bronze where an idol holds a gong. A hidden panel slides open to reveal a small metal tablet containing the inscription. He translates the text, realizing it contains the secret they have sought.

The inscription reveals the long-sought secret to turning people into zombies, and Armand discovers that he now possesses this power himself. He contemplates how to wield it, marking a turning point in the narrative and ethics of the expedition.

Armand conducts a first demonstration by turning his servant into a zombie to prove his newfound ability. The power is no longer theoretical, and the threat becomes personal for those around him. The team grapples with the implications of this discovery.

In the film's climactic sequence, Armand uses his zombie powers in an attempt to coerce Claire, driving the emotional and plot resolution toward a decisive confrontation. The expedition's fate hinges on how Claire responds to the threat and the consequences of Armand's power.