Blaxploitation horror films are a genre of horror films involving mostly black actors. In 1972 director William Crain did the first blaxploitation 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) b ...

''.

History

Blaxploitation films, regardless of subgenre, spawned from race movies. These were films that started appearing in the 1930s–1940s. They were meant to segregate films featuring an all black cast from mainstream 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 The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional Racial segregation in the United States, racial segregation, Racial discrimination ...

. African Americans were in fury at ongoing white

oppression Oppression is malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power, often under the guise of governmental authority or cultural opprobrium. Oppression may be overt or covert, depending on how it is practiced. Oppression refers to discrimination ...

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 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 fiction that consists of discourses or 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. The term o ...

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 A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words"exploitation". It makes a point to enforce stereotypes 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 blaxploitation film written, co-produced, scored, edited, directed by, and starring Melvin Van Peebles. His son Mario Van Peebles also appears in a small role, playing the title character ...

'' (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 2000s. His feature film debut, '' The Story of a Three-Day Pass'' ...

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

prostitute Prostitution is the business or practice of 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-penet ...

who is out to fight " he man (white oppression). It spanned a new type of

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

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, and

Denise Nicholas Denise Donna Nicholas (born July 12, 1944) is an American actress, author, and social activist. Nicholas is known primarily for her roles as high-school guidance counselor Liz McIntyre on the ABC comedy-drama series ''Room 222'' and Councilwoma ...

. 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 to be both the prototypical and the archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by som ...

( Charles Macaulay) 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 creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...

. An interracial gay couple of interior decorators buy the coffin that Blacula has been in for the last 200 years and bring him back to their home in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. Blacula has not been fed in over 200 years in 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 philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is a ...

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 (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...

. 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 in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

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

slave trade Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

. Since the first part of the film is set right before the 18th century it can be taken to mean that the slave trade they are referring to in the film was the

North Atlantic slave trade North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

. 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 races or racialized ethnicities. In the past, such marriages were outlawed in the United States, Nazi Germany and apartheid-era South Africa as miscegenation. In 19 ...

. 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 over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

and

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...

was running ramped 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. Crain went on to film the sequel '' Scream, Blacula, Scream''; 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 slang expression for a close companion or colleague (not necessarily in fiction) who is, or is generally regarded as, subordinate to the one they accompany. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, ...

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

ritual A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized, b ...

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 white protagonists in a film. Magical Negro characters, w ...

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, often called ''the'' ghetto, is a part of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially as a result of political, social, legal, environmental or economic pressure. Ghettos are often known for being more impoverished t ...

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 to scary. *Seductress - This

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

-inspired character tries to

seduce Seduction has multiple meanings. Platonically, it can mean "to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty", or "to lead astray, usually by persuasion or false promises". Strategies of seduction include conversation and sexual scripts, paralingual ...

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, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to contemplate and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, ...

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 tends to be based upon his popularity and fan base. His character tends to be similar to his

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

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'', is a 1973 American blaxploitation horror film directed by William A. Levey and starring John Hart, Ivory Stone, Andrea King, Roosevelt Jackson, Joe De Sue, Nick Bolin, and Liz Renay. It is ...

'' (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 fiction, Gothic novel ''Frankenstein, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an History of scie ...

's 1818 novel ''

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific exp ...

'' *''

Ganja and Hess ''Ganja & Hess'' is a 1973 American blaxploitation 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 ...

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

Scream Blacula Scream ''Scream Blacula Scream'' is a 1973 American blaxploitation vampire horror film. It is a sequel to the 1972 film '' Blacula''. The film was produced by American International Pictures (AIP) and Power Productions. This was the acting debut of Ri ...

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

voodoo Voodoo may refer to: Religions * African or West African Vodun, 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'' (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 fea ...

, this film is a parody of

The Exorcist ''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel of the same name. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty ...

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

zombie A zombie ( Haitian French: , ht, zonbi) is a mythological undead corporeal revenant created through the reanimation of a corpse. Zombies are most commonly found in horror and fantasy genre works. The term comes from Haitian folklore, in w ...

is called to seek revenge on the men that murdered Miss Sugar's boyfriend *'' Dr. Black and Mr. White'' (1976)- directed by William Crain, Dr. Black creates a cream 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 *'' 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 comedy horror anthology film directed by Rusty Cundieff and executive-produced by Spike Lee. The film presents four short urban-themed horror stories based on problem concepts that affect the African-Am ...

'' (1995)- directed by Rusty Cundieff, three stories about ghost activities and an abusive step-dad *''

Killjoy Killjoy may refer to: Characters * Killjoy, in Charlton Comics' ''E-Man'' series * Killjoy, in the video game ''Valorant'' * Killjoy, in the Marvel Comics series '' Weapon P.R.I.M.E.'' * Killjoy, in the movie ''The Ice Pirates'' * Dr. Killjoy, i ...

'' (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, a ...

'' (2001)- directed by Ernest R. Dickerson, Jimmy Bones comes back from the dead to avenge his murder (see below) *'' Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror'' (2006)- directed by

Stacy Title Stacy Title (February 21, 1964January 11, 2021) was an American film director, screenwriter and Film producer, producer. Her films include ''Let the Devil Wear Black'' (1999), ''The Last Supper (1995 film), The Last Supper'' (1995), and ''Down o ...

, three stories of how

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...

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 of ...

(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 during his career. He was the original title character in the science fiction ''Predator'' franchise, appearing ...

(1955–1991) played monsters in many horror films such as “ 227” 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 discussed super-powered humans and their madcap ad ...

.” *

Tony Todd Tony Todd (born December 4, 1954) is an American actor who made his debut as Sgt. Warren in the film ''Platoon'' (1986), and portrayed Kurn in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1990–1991) and '' Star Trek: Deep Space N ...

(1954–present) 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, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...

(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, producer, actor, and editor. Craven has commonly been recognized as one of the greatest masters of the horror genre due to the cultural imp ...

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

Ken Foree Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer. * ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film. * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine. * Ken Masters, a main character in t ...

(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 L. Jones (April 11, 1937July 22, 1988) was an American actor and theatre director, 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 Universi ...

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

Night of the Living Dead ''Night of the Living Dead'' is a 1968 American independent horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, with a screenplay by John Russo and Romero, and starring Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea. The story follows seven peop ...

''. *

Pam Grier Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress and singer. Described by Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star (although, there are some who dispute that claim and believe Cheng Pei-pei actually holds that distin ...

(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 Theresa 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'' ...

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

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde ''Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde'' is a 1976 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 by Willi ...

''. *

Scatman Crothers Benjamin Sherman Crothers (May 23, 1910 – November 22, 1986), known professionally as Scatman Crothers, 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 Hallo ...

(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, he is known for his frequent collaborations with Spike Lee ever since they were c ...

(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 horror comedy film directed by Ernest Dickerson, starring Billy Zane, William Sadler, and Jada Pinkett. Brenda Bakke, C. C. H. Pounder, Dick Miller and Thomas Haden Church c ...

''. *

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 actress in several films. E ...

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

The Scarlet Clue ''The Scarlet Clue'' is a 1945 American film directed by Phil Rosen.Scarlet Clue, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 12, Iss. 133, (Jan 1, 1945): 155. The film is also known as ''Charlie Chan in the Scarlet Clue'' (American informal title) ...

''. * Full Moon Pictures 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 (born December 19, 1949) is an American actress, animator and fashion model. Clark is perhaps best known for her portrayals of Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film ''Ganja & Hess'' and Janet Lawson, Lamont's girlfriend in the sitcom '' ...

is an African American actress that made appearances in most blaxploitation horror films. * Coolio (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, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...

horror films. *

Willie Best William Best (May 27, 1913 – 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 kn ...

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

Creep FX Creep, Creeps or CREEP may refer to: People * Creep, a creepy person Politics * Committee for the Re-Election of the President (CRP), mockingly abbreviated as CREEP, an fundraising organization for Richard Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign Art ...

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. His roles include Winston Zeddemore in the '' Ghostbusters'' film series, Sergeant Darryl Albrecht in '' The Crow'' (1994), and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's '' Oz'' (1997–2003) ...

(1945–present) is known for being the

token black Tolkien Black (originally known as Token Williams and Token Black) is a fictional character in the adult animated television series ''South Park''. He was originally voiced by Trey Parker, later changed to series art director, storyboard artist ...

guy in many horror films. * David Jean Thomas 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 (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 cultural identity that the white media has been trying to take away from them. Harry M. Benshoff, a professor of film at the

University of North Texas The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university in Denton, Texas. It was founded as a nonsectarian, coeducational, private teachers college in 1890 and was formally adopted by the state 11 years later."Denton Normal School," ...

, describes blaxploitation horror films as, "address ngthe specific fantasy needs of the black social imaginary)." 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 over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

. Many of the monsters portrayed in these films can be seen as representations of black power and black pride. They also tend to push the boundaries of human sexuality. Much of the plot tends to be driven by sex. These films are also more open and accepting of homosexuals and these horror films tend to draw large homosexual audiences. It is believed that the homosexual community is drawn to these films because they can relate to the oppression that the African American community has and is feeling to this day. 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 refers to the contributions of African Americans to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from mainstream American culture. The culture is both distinct and enormously influential on Ame ...

, 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 a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E.&nb ...

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. It is a form of sexism that is used to keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely practiced f ...

. Many of these horror films address the stereotype of African Americans partaking in bestiality. The monsters 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 (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, casti ...

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 continues to make films in the blaxploitation horror genre. During the early 1990s a group of African American directors sought to revive the genre. hey put a modern twist on it by setting the films in urban areas. This helped spanned the wave of the urban horror film. These film 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, definit ...

drugs A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalat ...

, and

poverty Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects. When evaluating poverty in ...

in an effort to relate to the new generation of oppressed African Americans. For example, the 1990 black urban horror film ''

Def by Temptation ''Def by Temptation'' is a 1990 American horror film that was written, produced, and directed by James Bond III; and stars Cynthia Bond, Kadeem Hardison, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bill Nunn. The film takes place in New York City in 1990. Plot Th ...

'', directed by ''

James Bond III James Bond III (born 1966) is an actor and filmmaker known for writing, directing, producing and starring in the 1990 horror film ''Def by Temptation'', as well as starring in the television films ''The Sky Is Gray'' (1980), '' Booker'' (1984), a ...

'', looks at a group of urban, African American professionals during the

AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...

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 An ice cube is a small piece of ice, which is typically rectangular as viewed from above and trapezoidal as viewed from the side. Ice cubes are products of mechanical refrigeration and are usually produced to cool beverages. They may be produc ...

, Ice-T,

Will Smith Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He began his Will Smith filmography, acting career starring as Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), a ...

Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...

, Redman,

Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of t ...

Treach Anthony 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. Career With Naughty by Nature, Treach worked ...

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), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

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

Mack 10 Dedrick D'Mon Rolison (born August 9, 1971), better known by his stage name Mack 10, is an American rapper. He has sold nearly 11 million records combining his solo and group works. Mack 10 made his first appearance on Ice Cube's 1994 " Bootleg ...

Ja Rule Jeffrey Bruce Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule (), is an American rapper and actor. Born and raised in New York City, he debuted in 1999 with '' Venni Vetti Vecci'' and its lead single " Holla Holla". Dur ...

, Sticky Fingaz,

Fredo Starr Fredo is a masculine given name, and diminutive of Alfredo or Federico, which may refer to: People * Getúlio Fredo (born 1954), Brazilian football manager * Fredo Santana (1990–2018), stage name of American rapper Derrick Coleman (born 1990 ...

, Big Gipp,

Kurupt Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Po ...

, Mla X,

Master P Percy Robert Miller Sr. (born April 29, 1967), known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record executive, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the record label No Limit Records, which was relaunched as ...

, and

Lil' Romeo Percy Romeo Miller (born August 19, 1989), also known by his stage name Romeo (formerly Lil' Romeo), is an American rapper, actor, and television personality. He gained fame as a rapper in the early 2000s after signing with No Limit Records, the ...

. The 2001 urban horror film ''Bones'', directed by Ernest R. Dickerson and starring the rapper Snoop Dogg, is an example of the hip hop influences that have been introduced to this genre. The film is about a gangster that comes back from the dead to avenge his murder. The film, like many others of its genre, has homosexual undertones. There are quite a few

homoerotic Homoeroticism is sexual attraction between members of the same sex, either male–male or female–female. The concept differs from the concept of homosexuality: it refers specifically to the desire itself, which can be temporary, whereas "homose ...

, violent scenes between men, but no erotic scenes with any of the female characters. Also, when this

violence Violence is the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. Other definitions are also used, such as the World Health Organization's definition of violence as "the intentional use of physical force or Power (social and p ...

is occurring there are never any women present, making the violence that much more intimate. This violence can also be viewed as the same-sex punishment that is inflicted on homosexuals in the mainstream media."Bones (2001) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 15 Feb. 2011. .

Footnotes

Work cited

* "1970's BLAXPLOITATION / HORROR HISTORY in 1970's Forum." THE HORROR DRUNX - Horror Movie Message Boards Forums. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.. * ''Blacula'' (1972) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). 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.html" ;"title=".a.: Routledge, 2008. 53–59. Print. * Paszylk, Bartlomiej. ''Scream, Blacula, Scream'' (1973) and ''Horror Express'' (1973). * "The Pleasure and Pain of Cult Horror Films: an Historical Survey." North Carolina: McFarland &, 2009. 125–30. Print. * "Rapper "Slash" Actor - Black Horror Movies.com Hip-hop Film DVD Ice Cube Ice-T LL Cool J Snoop Dogg Will Smith Coolio Redman Method Man." BlackHorrorMovies.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. . * 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

History

Background

''Blacula''

Stereotypical characters

Notable films

Notable actors and directors

Social impact

Controversy

1990s–2010s

See also

Footnotes

Work cited