Blaxploitation horror films are a genre of horror films involving mostly black actors. In 1972, William Crain directed what is considered to be the first

blaxploitation In American cinema, Blaxploitation is the film subgenre of action movie derived from the exploitation film genre in the early 1970s, consequent to the combined cultural momentum of the black civil rights movement, the black power movement, ...

horror film, ''

Blacula ''Blacula'' is a 1972 American blaxploitation horror film directed by William Crain. It stars William Marshall in the title role about an 18th-century African prince named Mamuwalde, who is turned into a vampire (and later locked in a coffin) ...

''.

History

Blaxploitation In American cinema, Blaxploitation is the film subgenre of action movie derived from the exploitation film genre in the early 1970s, consequent to the combined cultural momentum of the black civil rights movement, the black power movement, ...

films, regardless of subgenre, spawned from

race movie The race film or race movie was a genre of film produced in the United States between about 1915 and the early 1950s, consisting of films produced for black audiences, and featuring black casts. Approximately five hundred race films were produce ...

s. These were films that started appearing in the 1930s–1940s. They were meant to segregate films featuring an all black cast from mainstream

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

movies. Many of these films already had the element of horror integrated into them. Over time these films transcended into their own subgenre of film, blaxploitation horror films. In the 1950s to 1960s Hollywood started to integrate films produced and starring African Americans into mainstream media. There was backlash by several African American directors and actors that did not want to be integrated into mainstream media. They wanted to stay independent which caused them to create more of what were originally known as race movies. This happened during the 1960s–70s which was during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. African Americans were in fury at ongoing white

oppression Oppression is malicious or unjust treatment of, or exercise of power over, a group of individuals, often in the form of governmental authority. Oppression may be overt or covert, depending on how it is practiced. No universally accepted model ...

and wanted something that they could call their own. They began creating films that were directed, starring, and produced by African Americans. In an effort to maintain their

cultural identity Cultural identity is a part of a person's identity (social science), identity, or their self-conception and self-perception, and is related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, Locality (settlement), locality, gender, o ...

they made it a point to emphasize the stereotypes the white media was portraying them as. They called this genre blaxploitation. Many blaxploitation films have a mix of

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

and horror. However, director William Crain took the aspect of horror in these films one step further and created the first blaxploitation horror film, ''Blacula''. As a result, a new subgenre of blaxploitation was created, dedicated solely to horror.

Background

Blaxploitation is a

portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

of the words "black" and "exploitation". It makes a point to enforce

stereotype In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalization, generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can ...

s that have been afflicted on African Americans by the so-called white media. The first blaxploitation film was ''

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song ''Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song'' is a 1971 American independent blaxploitation action thriller film written, co-produced, scored, edited, directed by, and starring Melvin Van Peebles. His son Mario Van Peebles also appears in a small ro ...

'' (1971).

Melvin Van Peebles Melvin Van Peebles (born Melvin Peebles; August 21, 1932 – September 21, 2021) was an American actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. He worked as an active filmmaker into the early 2020s. His feature film debut, ''The Story of a Three-Day Pa ...

directed, produced, and took the hyper-sexualized lead role. He played a male

prostitute Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-pe ...

who is out to fight "

he man He or HE may refer to: Language * He (letter), the fifth letter of the Semitic abjads * He (pronoun), a pronoun in Modern English * He (kana), one of the Japanese kana (へ in hiragana and ヘ in katakana) * Ge (Cyrillic), a Cyrillic letter cal ...

(white oppression). It spanned a new type of

film genre A film genre is a Genre, stylistic or thematic category for Film, motion pictures based on similarities either in the narrative , narrative elements, aesthetic approach, or the emotional response to the film. Drawing heavily from the theories ...

that evolved all the way to what is now the urban blaxploitation horror films of the 21st century.

''Blacula''

'', filmed in 1972, was the first ever blaxploitation horror film. The film was directed by William Crain and starred William Marshall,

Vonetta McGee Vonetta Lawrence McGee (January 14, 1945 – July 9, 2010) was an American actress. She debuted in the Spaghetti Western ''The Great Silence'' and went on to appear in blaxploitation films such as Hammer (1972 film), ''Hammer'', Melinda (film), ' ...

, and

Denise Nicholas Denise Donna Nicholas (born July 12, 1944) is an American actress. Nicholas played high-school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series ''Room 222'' and Councilwoman Harriet DeLong on the NBC/ CBS drama series '' In the He ...

. The film was a parody of the popular film Dracula. In the film ''Blacula'', played by William Marshall, an African prince named Mamuwalde is bitten by

Count Dracula Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. He is considered the prototypical and archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by some to have been i ...

(

Charles Macaulay Charles Macaulay (September 26, 1927 – August 13, 1999) was an American actor and director. Early life He was born and raised in Kentucky. Education and career He was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and on graduating won ...

) himself and is turned into a

vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...

. An interracial gay couple of interior decorators buy the coffin that Blacula has been in for the last 200 years (technically, 192 years as the prologue is set in 1780) and bring him back to their home in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. Blacula has not fed in all that time as a result of Count Dracula's effort to punish him. Once he freed from his coffin, Blacula goes loose on the streets of Los Angeles and becomes the black avenger. He terrorizes the city in his effort to quench his thirst for blood. While on his search to kill he meets a woman named Tina (Vonetta McGee) that looks just like his departed wife. He believes that she is the

reincarnation Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the Philosophy, philosophical or Religion, religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new lifespan (disambiguation), lifespan in a different physical ...

of his wife and is bent on winning her affection by any means necessary. Tina's friend Gordon Thomas (

Thalmus Rasulala Thalmus Rasulala (born Jack Crowder; November 15, 1939October 9, 1991) was an American actor with a long career in theater, television, and films. Noted for starring roles in blaxploitation films, he was also an original cast member of ABC's soa ...

) finds out that Blacula is a vampire and tries to kill him. While ''Blacula'' can be viewed as a merely a cheesy parody of the film Dracula with an all black cast, it should also be noted for its portrayal of

human sexuality Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...

and

politics Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...

. Before becoming a vampire, Blacula was an African prince that wanted to connect

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

with the West. He tries to form this connection in an effort to stop the

slave trade Slave trade may refer to: * History of slavery - overview of slavery It may also refer to slave trades in specific countries, areas: * Al-Andalus slave trade * Atlantic slave trade ** Brazilian slave trade ** Bristol slave trade ** Danish sl ...

. Since the first part of the film is set right before the 19th century it can be taken to mean that the slave trade they are referring to in the film was the North Atlantic slave trade. This gives insight into the way Africans viewed the slave trade. Blacula goes to Count Dracula to ask him to stop the slave trade. Unfortunately, Count Dracula likes the slave trade and wants to keep it in existence. This can be viewed as to how Africans saw whites as oppressors that wanted to reap the benefits of the slave trade. Not only was Blacula brought to America by two interior decorators, but they were a gay

interracial couple Interracial marriage is a marriage involving spouses who belong to different "Race (classification of human beings), races" or Ethnic group#Ethnicity and race, racialized ethnicities. In the past, such marriages were outlawed in the United Sta ...

. This was very ground breaking at the time when

racial prejudice Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race or ethnicity over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination ...

and

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who identify or are perceived as being lesbian, Gay men, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred, or ant ...

was running rampant at the time of the film's release. Despite the controversies, the film ''Blacula'' went on to be named one of Variety's Top 50 Movies of 1972 and to win Best Horror Film of 1972 by the

Academy of Horror Films and Science Fiction Films An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the g ...

. Crain went on to film the sequel ''

Scream Blacula Scream ''Scream Blacula Scream'' is a 1973 American blaxploitation horror film. It is a sequel to the 1972 film ''Blacula'', focusing on the resurrection of the vampire Mamuwalde. The film was produced by American International Pictures (AIP) and Pow ...

''; although it was not as successful, it is still considered a notable horror film (see below).

Stereotypical characters

*Spook - The spook is usually the comedic

sidekick A sidekick is a close companion or colleague who is, or is generally regarded as, subordinate to those whom they accompany. Origins The first recorded use of the term dates from 1896. It is believed to have originated in pickpocket slang of ...

that is afraid of everything. *Primitive - This character is from the rural parts of Africa. He partakes in African

ritual A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...

s and is bent on killing everyone. *Mystical darkle - Like the old

Magical Negro The Magical Negro is a trope in American cinema, television, and literature. In the cinema of the United States, the Magical Negro is a supporting stock character who comes to the aid of the (usually white) protagonists in a film. Magical Negr ...

stereotype, the mystical darkle has some sort of magic powers that he or she uses to help or save the main character. *Voodoo doer - This character is a hybrid between the primitive and the mystical darkle. *Heroic death wisher - This character is usually a minor character that heroically dies to save the main character. *Ghetto dweller - The

ghetto A ghetto is a part of a city in which members of a minority group are concentrated, especially as a result of political, social, legal, religious, environmental or economic pressure. Ghettos are often known for being more impoverished than other ...

dweller is similar to a modern-day spook. He tries to act cool and intimidating throughout the film only to cower in fear when things get too scary. *Seductress - This

femme fatale A ( , ; ), sometimes called a maneater, Mata Hari, or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and Seduction, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype ...

-inspired character tries to

seduce In sexuality, seduction means enticing someone else into sexual intercourse or other sexual activity. Strategies of seduction include conversation and sexual scripts, paralingual features, non-verbal communication, and short-term behavioural ...

the main character in an effort to distract him. Usually the seductress does not have sex with the main character. She just teases him. *Authority figure - This character is placed in the film to promote a positive stereotype of African Americans. They tend not to have noticeable effect on the actions of the main character and are not that important in the overall story line. *Brute - The brute rarely speaks but he tends to be very sexual, especially with white women. *Voice of reason - This character is older than all the rest. Therefore, he has the most

wisdom Wisdom, also known as sapience, is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and good judgment to navigate life’s complexities. It is often associated with insight, discernment, and ethics in decision-making. Throughout history, wisdom ha ...

and should be listened to. He knows what is going to happen if the main characters do not heed his advice. *Sidekick - This character is just along for the ride. He or she does not have any real defining characteristic. They usually just stick around with the main character and wait for their time to die. *Rapper - This is a newer character that came about when blaxploitation horror films shifted to a more urban audience. His life span is based upon his popularity and fan base. His character tends to be similar to his

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

persona. *Star - The star is the protagonist of the film and tends to live throughout the film. All the other characters listed above help this character achieve safety and play a role in guiding them throughout the movie.

Notable films

Here is a list of what

AMC AMC may refer to: Film and television * AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain * AMC Networks, an American entertainment company ** AMC (TV channel) ** AMC+, streaming service ** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company *** ...

considers to be the top blaxploitation horror films *''

'' (1972)- directed by William Crain: African Prince is bitten by Dracula and reigns terror on Los Angeles *''

Blackenstein ''Blackenstein'' (also known as ''Black Frankenstein'' on its theatrical release poster and whose actual on-screen title is ''Blackenstein the Black Frankenstein'') is a 1973 American blaxploitation horror film directed by William A. Levey, and ...

'' (1973)- directed by William A. Levey, loosely based on

Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley ( , ; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel ''Frankenstein, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an History of science fiction# ...

's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' *''

Ganja and Hess ''Ganja & Hess'' is a 1973 American black horror film written and directed by Bill Gunn and starring Marlene Clark and Duane Jones. The film follows the exploits of anthropologist Dr. Hess Green (Jones), who becomes a vampire after his intelli ...

'' (1973)- directed by Bill Gunn, archeologist is stabbed with a cursed dagger and becomes a vampire *''

'' (1973)- directed by Bob Kelljan, the sequel to Blacula, a

voodoo Voodoo may refer to: Religions * West African Vodún, a religion practiced by Gbe-speaking ethnic groups * African diaspora religions, a list of related religions sometimes called Vodou/Voodoo ** Candomblé Jejé, also known as Brazilian Vodu ...

queen brings Blacula back to life *''

Abby Abby or Abbie is a given name, most often a shortened form of Abigail (name), Abigail and Albert (given name), Albert. Notable women * Abbie Betinis (born 1980), American composer * Abby Binay (born 1975), Filipino politician * Abbie Boudre ...

'' (1974)- directed by

William Girdler William Girdler (October 22, 1947 – January 21, 1978) was an American filmmaker. In a span of six years, from 1972 to 1978, he directed nine feature films in such genres as horror and action. Girdler also wrote and produced three of his featu ...

, this film is a parody of

The Exorcist ''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin from a screenplay by William Peter Blatty, based on The Exorcist (novel), his 1971 novel. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller (play ...

, a minister's wife is possessed by a sex demon *'' Sugar Hill'' (1974)- directed by Paul Manslansky, a

zombie A zombie (Haitian French: ; ; Kikongo: ''zumbi'') is a mythological undead corporeal revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. In modern popular culture, zombies appear in horror genre works. The term comes from Haitian folkl ...

is called to seek revenge on the men who murdered Miss Sugar's boyfriend *''

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde ''Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde'' is a 1976 American blaxploitation horror film loosely inspired by the 1886 novella ''Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film stars Bernie Casey and Rosalind Cash, and was directed b ...

'' (1976)- directed by William Crain, Dr. Henry Pride creates a serum that changes his skin tone and his personality *'' J.D.'s Revenge'' (1976)- directed by

Arthur Marks Arthur Ronald Marks (August 2, 1927 – November 13, 2019) was an American film and television director, writer, producer and distributor best known for his work in the blaxploitation genre, directing films such as ''Bonnie's Kids'', ''Detroit 90 ...

, a dead gangster takes over the body of a young law student in order to reveal who murdered him *'' Petey Wheatstraw'' (1977)- directed by

Cliff Roquemore Cliff Roquemore (28 September 1948 – 5 February 2002) was an American writer, producer and director. Principally active in Detroit theater, he was also involved with the production of several blaxploitation films, including ''The Human Tornado' ...

, a murdered comedian is resurrected by Lucifer, after agreeing to marry his daughter *'' Black Devil Doll from Hell'' (1984)- directed by

Chester Novell Turner Chester Novell Turner (born September 30, 1946) is an American filmmaker known for his blaxploitation horror films '' Black Devil Doll From Hell'' and '' Tales from the QuadeaD Zone''. Since their releases in the 1980s, Turner's movies have devel ...

, a Christian woman has sex with a puppet *''

Tales From the Hood ''Tales from the Hood'' is a 1995 American black horror anthology film directed by Rusty Cundieff (who also wrote the film with Darin Scott) and starring Corbin Bernsen, Rosalind Cash, Rusty Cundieff, David Alan Grier, Anthony Griffith, Wings H ...

'' (1995)- directed by

Rusty Cundieff George Arthur "Rusty" Cundieff (born December 13, 1960) is an American film and television director, actor, and writer known for his work on '' Fear of a Black Hat'' (1993), '' Tales from the Hood'' (1995), and '' Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006). ...

, three stories about ghost activities and an abusive step-dad *'' Killjoy'' (2000)- directed by Craig Ross, a supernatural killer clown comes to avenge the death of a boy murdered by gangsters *''

Bones A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, an ...

'' (2001)- directed by

Ernest R. Dickerson Ernest Roscoe Dickerson (born June 25, 1951) is an American director, cinematographer, and screenwriter of film, television, and music videos. As a cinematographer, Dickerson is known for his frequent collaborations with Spike Lee ever since they ...

, Jimmy Bones comes back from the dead to avenge his murder (see below) *''

Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror ''Hood of Horror'' (a.k.a. ''Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror'') is a 2006 American comedy horror anthology film directed by Stacy Title, and written by Jonathan McHugh, Tim Sullivan, Jacob Hair and Chris Kobin. The film consists of three differen ...

'' (2006)- directed by

Stacy Title Stacy Title (February 21, 1964January 11, 2021) was an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Her films include ''Let the Devil Wear Black'' (1999), ''The Last Supper'' (1995), and ''Down on the Waterfront'' (1993), for which she wa ...

, three stories of how

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

becomes the Hound of Hell in an effort to bring his dead sister back to life.

Notable actors and directors

Source: *

Noble Johnson Noble Johnson (April 18, 1881 – January 9, 1978), later known as Mark Noble, was an American actor and film producer. He appeared in films such as '' The Mummy'' (1932), '' The Most Dangerous Game'' (1932), ''King Kong'' (1933) and '' Son o ...

(1881–1978) founded the first black film company. *

Kevin Peter Hall Kevin Peter Hall (May 9, 1955 – April 10, 1991) was an American actor. Hall stood tall, and frequently played monster characters. He was the original title monster in the science fiction ''Predator'' franchise, appearing in the first 1987 ...

(1955–1991) played monsters in many horror films such as “

227 Year 227 (Roman numerals, CCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Senecio and Fulvius (or, less frequently, year 980 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination ...

” and “

Misfits of Science ''Misfits of Science'' is an American science fiction comedy-drama television series created by James D. Parriott that aired on NBC from October 4, 1985, to February 21, 1986. Plot The series featured super-powered humans and their madcap ad ...

.” *

Tony Todd Anthony Tiran Todd (December 4, 1954 – November 6, 2024) was an American actor known for his distinctly deep and gravelly voice. He amassed several credits on screen and in video games since the 1980s, including the Candyman (character), titl ...

(1954–2024) star of Candyman. *

LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip ho ...

(1968–present) is not only a rapper but also starred in films such as '' Deep Blue Sea''. *

Wes Craven Wesley Earl Craven (August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015) was an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Amongst his Wes Craven filmography, prolific filmography, Craven worked primarily in the Horror film, horror genre, particularly sla ...

(1939–2015) while Craven was white, he had been the director of black-featured horror films. *

Ken Foree Ken Foree (born February 29, 1948) is an American actor, best known as the protagonist Peter from the horror film '' Dawn of the Dead'' (1978) and as Roger Rockmore on the Nickelodeon television sitcom '' Kenan & Kel'' (1996–2000). Early life ...

(1946–present) appeared in many genre films throughout the 70s and 80s, is most notable for his role in '' Dawn of the Dead''. *

Duane Jones Duane Lionel Jones (April 11, 1937July 22, 1988) was an American actor. He was best known for his lead role as Ben in the 1968 horror film ''Night of the Living Dead''. He was later director of the Maguire Theater at the State University of New ...

(1936–1988) is known for starring in ''

Night of the Living Dead ''Night of the Living Dead'' is a 1968 American Independent film, independent zombie horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, written by Romero and John A. Russo, John Russo, produced by Russell Streiner and Karl Har ...

''. *

Pam Grier Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and martial artist. Described by Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star, she achieved fame for her starring roles in a string of 1970s action, blaxploitati ...

(1949–present) has started in many blaxploitation horror films, most notably the ''Blacula'' sequel ''Scream Blacula Scream''. * William Marshall (1924–2003) started in the first blaxploitation horror film, ''Blacula''. He also starred in another notable blaxploitation horror film, ''Abby'', which is a parody on the film ''The Exorcist''. *

Rosalind Cash Rosalind Cash (December 31, 1938October 31, 1995) was an American actress. Her best-known film role is in the 1971 science-fiction film ''The Omega Man''. Cash also had another notable role as Mary Mae Ward in ABC's ''General Hospital'', a role ...

(1938–1995) was known for starring in another famous blaxploitation horror film, ''

''. *

Scatman Crothers Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers (May 23, 1910 – November 22, 1986) was an American actor and musician. He is known for playing Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show ''Chico and the Man'', and Dick Hallorann in Stanley Kubrick's '' The ...

(1910–1986) was known for his infamous death scene in '' The Shining''. *

Ernest Dickerson Ernest Roscoe Dickerson (born June 25, 1951) is an American director, cinematographer, and screenwriter of film, television, and music videos. As a cinematographer, Dickerson is known for his frequent collaborations with Spike Lee ever since they ...

(1952–present) is known for directing blaxploitation horror films such as ''Bones'' and ''

Demon Knight ''Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight'' is a 1995 American black horror comedy film directed by Ernest Dickerson from a screenplay by Mark Bishop, Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. It stars Billy Zane, William Sadler, Jada Pinkett, Brenda ...

''. *

Mantan Moreland Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actor in several films. Ear ...

(1901–1973) was a black comedian that was known for his roles in ''

Meeting at Midnight A meeting is when two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal or business setting, but meetings also occur in a variety of other environments. Meetings can be used as form of group decision-making. Definiti ...

'' and ''

The Scarlet Clue ''The Scarlet Clue'' is a 1945 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter.Scarlet Clue, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 12, Iss. 133, (Jan 1, 1945): 155. The film is also known ...

''. *

Full Moon Pictures Full Moon Features is an American independent motion picture production and distribution company headed by B-movie veteran Charles Band. It is known for the direct-to-video series '' Puppet Master'', ''Trancers'', and ''Subspecies'', as well as ...

is an

urban horror Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...

film production studio that helped to keep the genre alive. *

Marlene Clark Marlene Clark (December 19, 1937 – May 18, 2023) was an American actress, animator and fashion model. Clark was best known for her portrayals of Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film '' Ganja & Hess'' and Janet Lawson, Lamont's girlfriend in the ...

is an African American actress that made appearances in most blaxploitation horror films. *

Coolio Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (August 1, 1963 – September 28, 2022), known by his stage name Coolio, was an American rapper. He was best known for his single "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995), which won a Grammy Award, and was credited for changing the cours ...

(1963–2022) is an African American rapper that crossed over to acting. He has appeared in countless

straight to video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strateg ...

horror films. *

Willie Best William Best (May 27, 1916 – February 27, 1962), known professionally as Willie Best or Sleep 'n' Eat, was an American television and film actor. Best was one of the first African American film actors and comedians to become well known ...

(1913–1962) not only helped popularize the stereotype that African Americans were lazy, but he also starred in many horror films such as ''

The Day Breakers ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The' ...

''. * Charles S. Dutton (1951–present) is most notable for being the black man that dies in every horror movie he has starred in. *

Miguel A. Nunez, Jr. --> Miguel is a given name and surname, the Portuguese and Spanish form of the Hebrew name Michael. It may refer to: Places * Pedro Miguel, a parish in the municipality of Horta and the island of Faial in the Azores Islands * São Miguel (disam ...

(1964–present) has been another black actor to depict dying in countless horror films. *

Creep FX The Committee for the Re-election of the President (or the Committee to Re-elect the President, CRP, but often mocked by the acronym CREEP) was, officially, a fundraising organization of United States President Richard Nixon's 1972 United State ...

is a horror division of urban films. * William Crain (1949–present) is most notable for directing the first blaxploitation horror film, ''Blacula''. In addition to ''Blacula'' he also directed ''Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde''. *

Ernie Hudson Earnest Lee Hudson (born December 17, 1945) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the ''Ghostbusters'' franchise. Hudson has also acted in the films ''Leviathan'' (1989), '' The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'' (19 ...

(1945–present) is known for being the

token black Tolkien Black is a fictional character in the adult animated television series ''South Park''. He was voiced by Trey Parker in early appearances, but ''South Park'' art director Adrien Beard took over in 2000 and has performed the character si ...

guy in many horror films. *

David Jean Thomas David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Damas ...

is known for starring in straight to video horror films such as ''

Voodoo Moon ''Voodoo Moon'' is a 2006 horror film written and directed by comic book artist and writer Kevin VanHook. It aired as a Sunday night movie on the Sci-Fi channel on June 4, 2006. Plot synopsis A demonic being destroys an entire town, save a young ...

''. *

S. Torriano Berry Steven Torriano Berry is an United States, American film producer, writer and Film director, director. He directed ''Noh Matta Wat!'', the first Belizean dramatic television series, which first aired on November 28, 2005. Background and car ...

(1958–present) is known for being one of the earliest directors of urban blaxploitation horror films such as ''The Embalmer''.

Social impact

Blaxploitation horror films are a way for African Americans to maintain a

that the white media have been trying to take away from them.

Harry M. Benshoff Harry M. Benshoff is an associate professor of TV, film and radio at the University of North Texas (UNT). He is the author of ''Monsters in the Closet'', which deals with the Media portrayal of LGBT people, portrayal of gay men in American Horror ...

, a professor of film at the

University of North Texas The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public university, public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its main campus is in Denton, Texas, Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco, Texas, Frisco. It serves as the ...

, describes blaxploitation horror films as "address ngthe specific fantasy needs of the black

social imaginary The imaginary (or social imaginary) is the set of values, institutions, laws, and symbols through which people imagine their social whole. It is common to the members of a particular social group and the corresponding society. The concept of t ...

". In other words, these films are helping to portray what the African American community wants to see in their community. These films were meant to be a form of identification and empowerment to the black community and to help overcome

racial bias Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one Race (human categorization), race or ethnicity over another. It may also me ...

. Blaxploitation horror films engage a number of contemporary social and political concerns. As Jamil Mustafa demonstrates, they appropriate the archetypes of

Gothic fiction Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror (primarily in the 20th century), is a literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name of the genre is derived from the Renaissance era use of the word "gothic", as a pejorative to mean me ...

and

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

to address "issues of vital importance to American society and culture in the 1970s", including "race relations, the movements for civil and gay rights, the Vietnam War, illicit medical experimentation, and tensions between minorities and the police".Mustafa, Jamil (2023).
The Blaxploitation Horror Film: Adaptation, Appropriation and the Gothic
'. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. Back cover. . Retrieved 15 March 2024. Many of the monsters portrayed in these films can be seen as representations of

black power Black power is a list of political slogans, political slogan and a name which is given to various associated ideologies which aim to achieve self-determination for black people. It is primarily, but not exclusively, used in the United States b ...

and

black pride Black pride is a movement which encourages black people to celebrate their respective cultures and embrace their African heritage. In the United States, it initially developed for African-American culture and was a direct response to white ...

. They also tend to push the boundaries of human sexuality. Much of the plot tends to be driven by sex. Blaxploitation horror films involving vampires explore queerness and the relationship between the movements for black and gay civil rights. Characters that are seen as stereotypically "normal" are often rejected by the audience because they are not as easy to relate to. These characters would include the authority figure (mentioned above) and heterosexual couples. While these characters are often able to be related to in mainstream media, oppressed people tended to see them as a representation of their oppressors.

Controversy

While many people viewed blaxploitation horror as a celebration of

African American culture African-American culture, also known as Black American culture or Black culture in American English, refers to the cultural expressions of African Americans, either as part of or distinct from mainstream American culture. African-American/Bl ...

, others did not view them in such a positive light. People started to view these films as perpetuating negative stereotypes about the African American community. There were leagues formed to prevent the making of these types of films. Members of the

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...

founded The Coalition Against Blaxploitation Movies. They even went on to use radical tactics to stop the productions of certain films. William Crain stated in an interview that members of the Coalition Against Blaxploitation Movies tied him up in a chair and told him to leave his studio in an effort to stop production of one of his films. Many of the films portrayed African American males as a stereotype of hyper-sexual beasts who ravish and demoralize woman. They help to portray the fear that the white media has instilled in its viewers. These films depicting motifs of the African American male raping white women are seen as

misogynist Misogyny () is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls. It is a form of sexism that can keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the social roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely practised ...

. Many of these horror films address the stereotype of African Americans partaking in bestiality. The

monster A monster is a type of imaginary or fictional creature found in literature, folklore, mythology, fiction and religion. They are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive, with a strange or grotesque appearance that causes Anxiety, terror ...

s that African Americans portray in these films tend to be more animalistic compared with monsters in mainstream Hollywood films. The animalistic monsters supposedly go around terrorizing and having sex with the female actors in an effort to portray bestiality. As urban horror films emerged in the 1990s, they began to portray African Americans as gangsters and thugs living in the "ghetto" that partake in illegal activities and take advantage of women.

1990s–2010s

Due to the controversy surrounding blaxploitation horror films, many are no longer being made. Many

film production Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...

companies see the theme as a fad that has run its course and decided to stop funding the projects. While some directors have continued to produce these types of films, like '' Black Devil Doll from Hell'' and ''

Tales from the QuadeaD Zone ''Tales from the QuadeaD Zone'' (also stylized ''TALES From The QuadeaD Zone)'' is a 1987 American anthology blaxploitation horror film written, directed, and produced by Chester Novell Turner. The film was originally released straight to VHS. VHS ...

'' they were produced with a minimal budget and were poorly made. New York filmmaker

Sean Weathers Sean Weathers (born January 14, 1980, in Jonestown, Guyana) is an American, New York City based, film director, producer, screenwriter, editor, casting director and actor. Weathers specializes in making low-budget films primarily in the erotic ...

continues to make films in the blaxploitation horror genre. During the early 1990s a group of African American directors sought to revive the genre. They put a modern twist on it by setting the films in urban areas, these films were directed at African Americans who lived in "the hood." They portrayed themes of

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

drugs A drug is any chemical substance other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalation, injection, smoking, ingestio ...

, and

poverty Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...

in an effort to relate to the new generation of oppressed African Americans. For example, the 1990 black urban horror film '' Def by Temptation'', directed by James Bond III, looks at a group of urban, African American professionals during the

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

epidemic. Bond wanted to show the ever-present danger of AIDS in the urban community at the time. Also, many of the films have influences of hip hop in them, and even star rappers like LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg (mentioned above), as well as others like

Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson Sr. (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. His lyrics on N.W.A's 1989 album '' Straight Outta Compton'' contributed to gangsta rap's widespread popu ...

Ice-T Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop music, hip hop and heavy metal music, heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground r ...

Will Smith Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, rapper, and film producer. Known for his work in both Will Smith filmography, the screen and Will Smith discography, music industries, List of awards and nominations re ...

Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after National Football League, NFL and Canadian Football Lea ...

, Redman,

Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), known professionally as Method Man, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He is a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, and is half of the hip hop duo Method Man & R ...

Treach Anthony Shawn Criss (born December 2, 1970), better known by his stage name Treach, is an American rapper and actor. He is perhaps best known as the lead rapper of the hip hop group Naughty by Nature. Early life, family and education Criss atte ...

Rah Digga Rashia Tashan Fisher (born December 18, 1974), known professionally as Rah Digga, is an American rapper and actress. She is best known as a longtime member of the Flipmode Squad, a hip hop group led by Busta Rhymes. Her debut album, '' Dirty H ...

Mos Def Yasiin Bey ( ; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def ( ), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A prominent figure in conscious hip hop, he is recognized for his use of wordplay and commentary on social an ...

Tone Loc Anthony Terrell Smith (born March 3, 1966), best known by his stage name Tone Lōc (), is an American rapper and actor. He is known for his raspy voice, his hit songs " Wild Thing" and " Funky Cold Medina", for which he was nominated for a Gr ...

MC Eiht Aaron Bernard Tyler (born May 22, 1971), better known by his stage name MC Eiht (pronounced "MC Eight"), is an American rapper. Many of his songs are based on his life in Compton. His stage name was partly inspired by the numeral in KRS-One's nam ...

Spice 1 Robert Lee Greene Jr. (born July 2, 1970), better known by his stage name Spice 1 (an acronym for "Sex, Pistols, Indo, Cash and Entertainment"), is an American rapper from Hayward, California. He began releasing albums in 1991, where he gained p ...

Mack 10 Dedrick D'Mon Rolison (born August 9, 1971), better known by his stage name Mack 10, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. He was a member of hip hop supergroup Westside Connection along with WC and Ice C ...

Ja Rule Jeffrey Bruce Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. Born and raised in New York City, Ja Rule became known for blending gangsta rap with pop rap, pop and contempo ...

Sticky Fingaz Kirk Jones (born November 3, 1973), better known by his stage name Sticky Fingaz, is an American rapper, record producer and actor best known as a member of multi-platinum hardcore rap group Onyx. Sticky Fingaz was discovered by Jam Master Ja ...

Fredro Starr Fred Lee Scruggs Jr. (born April 18, 1971), better known by his stage name Fredro Starr, is an American rapper and actor best known as a member of the hardcore rap group Onyx. Fredro Starr was discovered by the late hip hop star Jam Master Jay o ...

Big Gipp Cameron F. Gipp (born April 28, 1973), better known by his stage name Big Gipp, is an American rapper. He is a member of the Atlanta-based hip hop group Goodie Mob, with whom he has released six studio albums, as well as the duo Ali & Gipp, with ...

Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he formed Tha Dogg Pound in 1992 along with Daz Dillinger; the rap duo has releas ...

Mia X Mia Young (born January 9, 1970), better known by her stage name Mia X, is an American rapper and songwriter from New Orleans. She enjoyed success in the local " bounce" scene of the early 1990s. She was the first female emcee to get a contr ...

Master P Percy Robert Miller (born April 29, 1967), better known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, dancer, actor and entrepreneur. He founded the record label No Limit Records in 1991, which was relau ...

, and

Lil' Romeo Percy Romeo Miller Jr. (born August 19, 1989), also known by his stage name Romeo (formerly Lil' Romeo), is an American rapper, singer, actor and television personality. He gained fame as a rapper in the early 2000s after signing with his father, ...

. The 2001 urban horror film ''Bones'', directed by Ernest R. Dickerson and starring the rapper Snoop Dogg, is an example of the

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

influences that have been introduced to this genre. The film is about a gangster that comes back from the dead to avenge his murder."Bones (2001) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .

Footnotes

Works cited

* "1970's BLAXPLOITATION / HORROR HISTORY in 1970's Forum." THE HORROR DRUNX - Horror Movie Message Boards Forums. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.. * "Black Horror Movie Hall of Fame - Black Horror Movies.com African-americans in Horror Films." Black Horror Movies.com African-Americans in Horror Films Tony Todd Ken Foree Blaxploitation Blacula Tales from the Hood Blade Blackenstein Petey Wheatstraw Thing with Two Heads. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . * "Black Horror Movie Stereotypes" - Black Horror Movies.com African-Americans in Horror Films." Black Horror Movies.com African-Americans in Horror Films Tony Todd Ken Foree Blaxploitation Blacula Tales from the Hood Blade Blackenstein Petey Wheatstraw Thing with Two Heads. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . * ''Bones'' (2001) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . * Harris, Mark H. "African-American Horror Movies - Black Horror Movies." Horror and Suspense Movies and TV Shows - Reviews, Photos, News, Upcoming Releases, Trailers. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . * The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . * Lawrence, Novotny. "Deadlier than Dracula." Blaxploitation Films of the 1970s Blackness and Genre. New York . * Reid, Mark A. "Two African American Horrors." Black Lenses, Black Voices: African American Film Now. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005. 61–76. Print. * "The Very Best of Blaxploitation Horror - AMC Movie Database - Movie Guide." AMC Movie Guide. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . {{Horror film Blaxploitation films"> Horror films by genre African-American films">Horror films by genre">Blaxploitation films"> Horror films by genre African-American films

History

Background

''Blacula''

Stereotypical characters

Notable films

Notable actors and directors

Social impact

Controversy

1990s–2010s

See also

Footnotes

Works cited