Voodoo Woman

Voodoo Woman

Year: 1957

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: English

Director: Edward L. Cahn

HorrorScience Fiction

A woman appears normal by day but transforms into a terrifying monster after dark. Deep in the jungle, a deranged scientist hijacks the locals’ voodoo rituals, hoping to forge an indestructible servant for his own ends. When a group of gold‑seekers discovers his hidden village, the scientist identifies Marilyn, the ruthless leader of the expedition, as the perfect subject for his gruesome experiment.

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Timeline & Setting – Voodoo Woman (1957)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Voodoo Woman (1957). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Bantalaya, French-owned jungle colony

Bantalaya is a dense, tropical jungle colony under French ownership where a voodoo tribe guards a sacred idol. The setting blends colonial outposts with remote sacred grounds, creating a volatile backdrop for treasure hunting and dangerous experiments. The jungle’s atmosphere underscores isolation, danger, and the clash between civilized power and ancient rites.

🏝️ Jungle 🗺️ Colonial setting 🧭 Treasure hunt

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:43

Main Characters – Voodoo Woman (1957)

Meet the key characters of Voodoo Woman (1957), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. Roland Gerard (Tom Conway)

A brilliant but unhinged scientist who exiles himself in the jungle and fuses voodoo with biochemistry to create a new, deathless being. He seeks godlike power over his creation through hypnosis and telepathy, treating it as a means to dominate the world from his hidden lab.

🔬 Scientist 🧪 Mad scientist 🧭 Jungle exile

Marilyn Blanchard (Marla English)

A beautiful, ruthless treasure hunter who murders Harry West to steal his map and lures Ted Bronson into guiding her to the idol. She becomes the subject of Gerard’s experiment, transforming into an invulnerable monster, only to lose control and turn against her pursuers.

🗡️ Treasure hunter 💎 Ruthless 🧠 Manipulative

Ted Bronson (Mike Connors)

An American adventurer hired as a jungle guide who is easily swayed by Marilyn’s charm. He is drawn into a deadly plot and, despite his initial naivety, teams up with Susan to survive the chaos.

🧭 Jungle guide 🤝 Naive adventurer

Susan Gerard (Mary Ellen Kay)

Wife of Dr. Gerard who remains captive to his controlling schemes. She resists his manipulation and ends up taking an active role in escaping the peril alongside Ted.

💔 Spouse 🗝️ Escape risk

Harry West (Norman Willis)

A greedy treasure hunter who first uncovers the gold and then is murdered by Marilyn as the plan to claim the idol unfolds.

🏴 Treasure hunter 💰 Greedy

The Monster (Paul Blaisdell)

The transformed Marilyn, an invulnerable creature created by Gerard’s experiment. The monster embodies the perils of combining science with dark magic and represents the ultimate loss of humanity.

👹 Monster 🛡️ Invulnerable

Chaka, the Witch Doctor (Martin Wilkins)

A witch doctor from the tribe who embodies the native spiritual authority around the idol and sacrifices, providing a supernatural counterpoint to Gerard’s laboratory science.

🧙 Witch Doctor 🪄 Shaman

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:43

Major Themes – Voodoo Woman (1957)

Explore the central themes of Voodoo Woman (1957), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed drives the plot as Harry West’s discovery of gold triggers a dangerous pursuit. Marilyn Blanchard and her partner exploit others to seize the idol and its riches, leading to murder and deception. The lure of wealth sets off a chain of betrayals, violence, and chaos in the jungle. The pursuit of treasure ultimately exposes the moral compromises of the characters.

🔬 Science vs Voodoo

Dr. Roland Gerard blends voodoo rites with biochemical science in a reckless bid to birth a perfect, deathless being. The clash between hypnotic/telepathic control and ancient ritual highlights the tension between rational experimentation and occult practice. The experiments reveal the danger of hubris when science operates outside ethical boundaries. Control over the creation proves unstable as loyalties shift.

👹 Transformation

Marilyn’s transformation into an invulnerable monster is central to the tale. The process corrupts her humanity, turning her into a weapon under Gerard’s control, then stripping away that control when the motive shifts. The cycle of turning human to monster—and back—explores identity under external coercion. The climax shows power turning against its maker as the monster menaces everyone around.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:43

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Voodoo Woman Summary

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Voodoo Woman Summary

Voodoo Woman Timeline

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Voodoo Woman Timeline

More About Voodoo Woman

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