BLACULA (1972)
Directed by William Grain
Starring William Marshall and Vonetta McGee
From the opening scene where two gay antique dealers become the first L.A. victims of African Prince Mamuwalde, who became a vampire through an encounter with the original Dracula, you get an idea of where this PG-rated movie is coming from: the 1970s.
But tragically "Blacula" is an overrated film, both as '70s blaxploitation and as a horror vehicle. It's for the most part bloodless and for camp value doesn't stack up to blaxploitation masterpieces like "Black Belt Jones" or most of the early Pam Grier stuff.
After a move to L.A., Blacula zeros in on McGee, whom he believes is the reincarnation of his long-since dead wife. It's an oft-used concept in vampire movies.
Grier was recruited to star in the even worse, "Scream, Blacula, Scream," where she was terribly miscast as a lady-in-distress.
I'd recommend passing on both these movies, unless you're really desperate for blaxploitation, are using an uncontrolled substance, or both.
