Blacula!

Blacula is everything you're looking for in an exploitation film. First it's a major part of the sub-genre "Blaxploitation" which in the late 60's and early 70's especially created low-budget entertainment for black audiences and others who wanted to see different faces in familiar stories. Blacula is directed by Willaim Crain and based on what I've seen by him, I have little to complain about. He tells his stories clearly and with limited confusion, something low-budget films often fail on.

The central strength of this film is William Marshall in the lead role of Prince Mamuwalde who along with his princess Luva visit Dracula who is an unknown quantity. Mamuwalde wants to convince Dracula to help him end slavery but of course the sadistic Dracula has other plans. He turns the Prince into a vampire and then locks him away in the bowels of his castle for hundreds of years. Needless to say when he emerges thanks to two hapless antiques dealers. Unleashed on the modern world "Blacula" goes about getting his fill of blood and creating vampires in the wake.

He is opposed by the cops led by Thalmus Rasulala an actor with the chops to stand up to Marshall's character with some level of credibility. These two are joined by a strong cast with the likes of Denise Nichols and Vonetta McGree. Smaller parts are a pleasure to watch with Ketty Lester as the most memorable taxi driver you'll ever see and Ji-Tu Cumbuku was is a delight to see but adds nothing to the plot that I can remember. The legendary Elisha Cook is around as a morgue attendant and Gordon Pinsent of Red Green fame is a cop.

This is a top of the line thriller, not really scary all that much but with lots of bombastic scary-like bits that entertain immensely.

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