11 Facts About Clairvius Narcisse

Clairvius Narcisse was a Haitian man who claimed to have been turned into a zombie by a Haitian Vodou, and forced to work as a slave.

Clairvius Narcisse admitted himself to the Schweitzer Hospital in Deschapelles, Haiti, on April 30,1962.

Clairvius Narcisse had a fever and fatigue, and was spitting up blood.

Clairvius Narcisse was pronounced dead, and held in cold storage for about a day before burial.

In 1980, a man identifying himself as Clairvius Narcisse approached Angelina Narcisse, the deceased's sister, in the city of L'Estere.

Clairvius Narcisse was immediately recognized by his family and several other villagers, and he further convinced them of his identity by using a childhood nickname and sharing intimate family information.

Clairvius Narcisse recounted that he had been conscious but paralyzed during his supposed death and burial, and had subsequently been removed from his grave and forced to work at a sugar plantation.

When questioned, Clairvius Narcisse told investigators that the sorcerer involved had "taken his soul".

Clairvius Narcisse was then allowed to return to his home where he collapsed, "died", and was buried.

Davis then hypothesized that Clairvius Narcisse was dosed with Datura stramonium after his body was recovered to create a compliant zombie-like state until the bokor died and he stopped receiving Datura.

Clairvius Narcisse's story was loosely adapted into The Serpent and the Rainbow, a 1988 American horror film directed by Wes Craven.