This guide covers , exploring both the 1985 non-fiction book by ethnobotanist Wade Davis and the 1988 horror film adaptation directed by Wes Craven . 1. The Original Book (1985)

Directed by Wes Craven, the movie dramatizes Davis's research, turning it into a supernatural political thriller .

Davis hypothesized that zombification was achieved through a powerful tetrodotoxin-based powder (zombie powder).