Voodoo Macbeth (2021) (2025)

Popular reviews

• Review by Dwayne Bartel ★½

  The subject matter is catnip for me. But the representations here of rehearsals and the production are generic cliches. It’s as if the filmmakers (of whom there are many) did no research nor have any inventive inspiration about the historic production. The four minutes of famed newsreel footage over the end credits are more enlightening than the entirety of the 100 minutes leading up to it.

• Review by Ed Scheid ★★½

  With 8 writers and 10 directors who collaborated as students at the University of Southern California, this film about Orson Welles' Harlem production of "Macbeth" was disappointing, the film seemed like a superficial attempt to recreate an important cultural event. Inger Tudor stands out with an effective performance as the production's Lady Macbeth

• Review by Tyler Malone ½

  My Unwritten Essay Title:
  “It Is a Study, Riffing on the Bard, Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying…What Exactly?: The Multiplying Villanies of Nature Voodoo Swarm Upon Him—From the Caribbean Isles”

• Review by TajLV ★★★½

  Film #43 among my 52 Films by Women 2023-24

• Review by Ryan Hill ★★

  As a Welles fanatic? Disappointing
  As a Shakespeare fanatic? Also disappointing. Great production design, i wish it made literally any creative choices.

• Review by Logan Birkenseer ★★★

  Voodoo Macbeth to me, feels pretty unfinished and visibly low budget, but has some highlights that are definitely worth recognizing. The film gives little to no context at the beginning and is really sloppy screenplay-wise in the first third or so. The writing doesn’t feel that natural in my opinion and personally I didn’t love most of the performances, especially from the leads. However, I did really like some of the side characters and there are a few scenes that tackled heavier issues that I thought played out very well involving those side characters. The film really hits its stride toward the end of the second act and the third act and had me much more interested. There’s a fun…

• Review by jaye

  I wish the filmmakers had trusted the audience could be invested in the Black characters. I dgaf about Orson Welles' marriage, but I could have seen the whole thing from the perspective of Inger Tudor & Ashli Haynes.

• Review by Overly Honest Reviews ★★★★½

  Genre: Drama
  Year Released: 2022
  Runtime: 1h 48m
  Director(s): Dagmawi Abebe, Victor Alonso-Berbel, Hannah Bang, Christopher Beaton, Agazi Desta, Zoë Salnave, Roy Arwas, Tiffany K. Guillen, Ernesto Sandoval, Sabina Vajrača
  Writer(s): Erica Sutherlin, Agazi Desta, Morgan Milender, Jennifer Frazin, Molly Miller, Amri Rigby, Joel David Santner, Chris Tarricone
  Cast: Inger Tudor, Jewell Wilson Bridges, June Schreiner, Jeremy Tardy, Ashli Haynes, Daniel Kuhlman, Wrekless Watson, Gary McDonald, Hunter Bodine
  Where To Watch: premiering theatrically in New York and Los Angeles on October 21, 2022, with additional markets to follow

  RAVING REVIEW: Based on actual events, this film shocked me at every turn. I wasn’t expecting this level of intensity.

  What initially sold me was the inclusion of 20-year-old Orson Welles; no,…

• Review by Albert Mechsner ★★★

  El protagonista no se parece en nada a Welles y en momentos se nota su poco presupuesto, pero es claro que hay talento y cariño a la hora de contar la historia.

• Review by MJ ★★★½

  (Seen as part of the Cleveland International Film Festival)

  The precise qualities that make Voodoo Macbeth so special is malleable enough to be left to the viewer’s own interpretation. This is a very direct and unfurnished account of the challenges faced when putting together one of the most daring Shakespearean productions of the 20th century, as well as an enthralling demonstration of the triumphs that came about as a result of the dedication of a wide group of individuals. The film weaves together so many additional themes – race relations is obviously the central motif, but discussions on identity (particularly homosexuality and interracial relationships) are conducted throughout, albeit in a way that is meaningful and constructive, rather than just shoehorned…

• Review by KD Tolliver ★★½

  4.9 out of 10

  This collaborative project of the USC School of Cinematic Arts features a whopping eight credited writers and ten directors. With so many cooks in the kitchen it’s surprising that seems aren’t more visible but it’s mostly competently shot and edited, though the sound is muddy for stretches. The performances are uneven and the actors seem more comfortable with “The Scottish Play” than the original material. A bit boggy in the middle and probably too long overall but if we’re judging it as a student film, I’m not sure that it can be seen as anything less than a modest success.