Blacula
(1972)
MGM
R1 / NTSC DVD
Director: William Crain
Writer: Raymond Koenig & Joan Torres
Starring: William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas & Thalmus
Rasulala
Review by Ted Jones
Despite being pure blaxploitation, Blacula is a very traditional
vampire movie. Set to a funkalicious soundtrack, recently unearthed
African prince Mamuwalde (William Marshall) feasts on the populace
of Los Angeles while pursuing a romance with a woman who looks like
his long-dead wife. Marshall rises above many vampire characters by
bringing out an underlying rage and sadness to go along with the
suave and sophisticated Drac we’ve seen so many times. There were a
few logical inconsistencies and goofy action sequences as the story
moved along, but all is forgiven after one of the most original
vampire endings ever.
Set against a relentless backdrop of soulful 70’s chic, be prepared
for afros, wild sideburns, metallic olive green cars and three
musical numbers by the Hues Corporation, guaranteed to rock your
boat. Two of the characters are gay, and you’ll hear casual slurs
tossed about in reference to them, as well as a couple of n-bombs.
The only time you hear “Blackula” mentioned in in the opening
scenes, when Count Dracula christens him that before biting him and
then locking him into a coffin for eternal starvation. Eternal
starvation, in this case, lasted about 150 years.
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