MGM DVD under the "Soul Cinema" monicker.
Blacula,William Crain, 1972, USA, 93 mins, MGM
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Somewhere around the 16th century Count Mamuwalde and his wife Luva arrange a meeting with Count Dracula. They are hoping to persuade him to help them in their struggle against the slave trade. Unfortunately for them Dracula doesn't give a damn - his interest seems to lie with Luva and not the cause. Mamuwalde protests, but to no use. Count Dracula makes him curses him as an eternal slave of a crazed bloodlust and names him Blacula. Balcula then gets shut in a casket, where he can do nothing but wait. In the 1970s two (super!-)gay interior decorators find the casket amongst other stuff and decide to bring it to the USA. Accidentally they awake the black bloodsucker and become the first victims of his undying thirst. Roaming the streets Blacula at some point finds his way into a club, where he sees Tina - a drop dead copy of his wife! Thus he finds passion once again, and works his way into Tina's heart and circle of friends (and since it's the 70s and everyone are wearing clothes that balance on the edge of theatrical costumes, no one seems to ponder upon his outfit). By sheer chance one of Tina's friends also happen to be a Dr. Gordon Thomas, who is working with the police trying to solve the strange occurrence of patients with bite marks. The race against time begins. This flick may be considered as the Godfather of Blaxploitation - and with good reason, I just might as well add. It is really neatly put together by some very nice elements. It has a nice flow to it, some hilarious stereotypes, lots of colorful locations, costumes and requisites - not to mention bad-ass afro attitude! The 70s language really makes a comical contrast to Balcula's old fashioned 16th century manners, but William Marshall does it so well playing the vampire count that he never looses his dignity as a character. I don't know if that was the director's meaning originally, but seeing this flick some 35 years after it was made, makes the cast of "hip" 70's people seem as the comical ones. Another great element is the soundtrack. The Hues Corporation provide the music at the club and get a lot of attention from the camera in turn - so much actually that it becomes laughable. Especially because they are extremely happy-go-lucky - and ugly as hell at that - to behold. I don't know if the intention of wearing VERY tight pants match the result, but I sure hope not. As a last point it may be worth noting that there are some nice scenes in it with usage of slow motion, which turned quite well. The result is a movie which you can not just laugh AT, but also laugh WITH. By the way, notice Tina's hair as she is turned over - she gets gray stripes in it. A reference to… Bride of Frankenstein?! In a Dracula film? Oh well, it was the 70s. 4 out of 6 - Reviewed by Konstantin Sane |
