Blacula

Rating:
Summary: Blacula Sucks
Review: This was made in the height of the weak genre 'blaxploitation', it is one of the worse films ever put into frame. If you like horror movies you will certainly not like this one, it was even followed up by a sequel which was twice as bad. Avoid it and check out Roger Corman's stuff better, no need to look at 8 foot afros!



Rating:
Summary: One of the top Blaxploitation flicks
Review: Whenever I tell people (who haven't seen it) that Blacula is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, they inevitably laugh, and I find myself defending it. People who've seen it usually don't laugh. True, it's not a horror classic on the level of Bride of Frankenstein, but it's not meant to be. What it does have is a literate script, solid acting (esp. William Marshall's commanding performance), a great score, and some fun shocks. It's not just the best of the Blaxploitation horror films, it may be the best Blaxploitation film period.

Rating:
Summary: The vampire Count is back in Black !
Review: Wonderfully theatric & entertaining "blaxploitation" vampire film from 1972 occupies a special place in the hearts of many horror aficionado's for William Marshall's grand performance as the first notable black vampire, Blacula / Prince Manuwalde ! Shakespearian trained Marshall adds prestige and style to this film with his towering stature, ( at six foot five inches tall, Marshall was the same height as one of the screen's other great vampires, Christopher Lee ) his magnificent, baritone voice and dominating on screen presence.

Cashing in on the huge popularity of "blaxploitation" cinema of the early 1970's ( kick started the previous year by Melvin van Peebles controversial "Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song" ), American International Pictures resurrected the vampire genre into contemporary Los Angelos complete with gay interior decorators, jive talking dudes in groovy threads and swarms of white LAPD officers being defeated by an African American hero !!

Although Marshall is the film's stand out, both as the lead character, and the glue holding the film from sliding into too many clichés & stereotypes, credit must be given to the other key cast members for their contribution. Thalmus Rasulala is excellent as the puzzled doctor thrust into the role of vampire hunter, spunky Vonetta McGee contributes the movie's love interest, firstly as Prince Manuwalde's ill fated wife, Luva, and then as her reincarnation, Tina. And sad faced character actor, and eternal fall guy, Elisha Cook Jnr playing a morgue attendant ends up on the sharp end of a set of vampire fangs ! Arguably, the funniest line of the movie is uttered by the undertaker Swenson ( Lance Talyor Sr ), after he meets with Dr Gordon Thomas ( Thalmus Rasulala ) at the funeral home. After the inquisitive doctor leaves, the undertaker sighs and remarks " That has got to be the rudest ****** I have ever met !".

"Blacula"was highly successful upon release, spawning an unfortunately inferior sequel the following year, "Scream, Blacula, Scream". Although the movie boasted William Marshall back in the cape and 1970's African American film heroine, Pam Grier, it just couldn't recreate the same formula. To gain a wonderful insight on "blaxploitation" movies, grab the fantastic book "What It Is.....What It Was ! The Black Film Explosion of the 1970's in Words & Pictures"...it includes a tremendous interview with William Marshall and his thoughts on the "Blacula" movies !!

One of my preferred vampire films, "Blacula" is a unique, intelligent & satisfying contribution to the vampire genre

Rating:
Summary: Blacula pursues his lust for blood, love and afros
Review: You could buy this movie easily thinking it is a spoof, but BLACULA is in actuality a hip, 70s blaxploitation (of sorts) take on the Hammer horrors of the 60s. As the movie begins African prince Mamuwalde is visiting Count Dracula in his castle in Travsylvania at in the late 19th century. He makes the mistake of mentioning to the Count the problem of slavery, which Dracula supports. Being the unreasonable guy he is Dracula places a curse on Mamuwalde and gives him his name "Blacula: a living fiend!". Mamuwalde is predictably entombed, and is accidently resurrected in the early 70s USA. Blacula soon sets about harassing a woman who is the spitting image of his late wife, and he soon decides that she is the reincarnation of her. While all the afro haircuts and flares will have you chuckling, there are some chills at the climax, but I found the film ended abruptly. I haven't seen the sequel yet so I don't know if it picks up where this leaves off, but BLACULA is a fun movie for fright fans and cult movie addicts. Try imagining Rudy Ray Moore in the title role if you can. Now THAT would be scary.