Blacula (1972)
Average Rating: 5.1/10
Reviews Counted: 21
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 11
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 5,576
My Rating
Movie Info
Advertised as the 100th production of American International studios, Blacula stars actor/singer William Marshall in the title role. An 18th century African prince, Blacula is transmogrified into a vampire while visiting Transylvania. Two centuries later, he rises from his coffin to wreak havoc in the Watts district of Los Angeles. Blacula's particular target is Tina (Vonetta McGee), whom he thinks is the reincarnation of his long-ago lady love. Thalmus Rasulala assumes the "Van Helsing" role as
Aug 25, 1972 Wide
Jan 20, 2004
HBO Video
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Cast
-
William Marshall
Blacula -
Vonetta McGee
Tina -
Denise Nicholas
Michelle -
Thalmus Rasulala
Gordon Thomas -
Gordon Pinsent
Lt. Peters -
Charles McCauley
Dracula -
Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Skillet -
Elisha Cook Jr.
Sam -
Ted Harris
Bobby -
Rick Metzler
Billy -
Lance Taylor Sr
Swenson -
Emily Yancy
Nancy -
Ketty Lester
Juanita -
Logan Field
Barnes -
Eric Brotherson
Real-Estate Agent -
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Blacula Trailer & Photos
All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (11) | DVD (4)
William Marshall portrays title role with a flourish and gets first rate support right down the line.
The film remains a lifeless reworking of heroes versus vampires with soul music and a couple of good gags.
Top CriticAnybody who goes to a vampire movie expecting sense is in serious trouble, and Blacula offers less sense than most.
William Marshall brings considerable nobility to the lead role - no mean feat when you've got patches of hair glued all over your face and keep turning into a giant bat.
It's redeemed somewhat by a cool soul soundtrack and a lead performance by the classically-trained Marshall, who displays a reverence for his iconic role that the filmmakers could have heeded.
Vibrant funking-up of Hammer bloodsuckers
Blaxploitation meets vampire movie that's formulaic and full of holes.
The hammy performance by Marshall makes it enjoyable.
best of the horror blaxploitation genre
A terrible blaxploitation angle on the classic Dracula story
An unburied treasures for those of us who love bad film. It's a horror film thematically, and politically and aesthetically, too.
Contrived and a pain in the neck, yes...but what a concept!
[T]his classic example of blaxploitation does invoke the C-word, but not before 'camp-eee!' actually crossed your mind, which is while you're putting the DVD in the player.
Has some genuinely scary moments.
A surprisingly worthy addition to the blood-sucking genre.
Audience Reviews for Blacula
Super Reviewer
They are there a little bit, but the most sterotypical campy thing here are the gay interior decorators. This isn't a "jive vampire" like one might expect. Instead ,things are mostly played straight. Instead of being "Dracula's soul brother" this is a serious take on the vampire legend, trying to mix the gothic elements of Hammer horror films with contemporary (1970s) African American culture.
Despite some bad writing and some iffy acting, this is a fairly successful film. I am biased, and yeah, this film is heavily flawed, but it's pretty damn entertaining. It also tries for a bit of subtext, which is always appreciated. This could have been a lot better, but it's far better than the later attempt at a black vampire that was the woeful "Vampire in Brooklyn".
Give this one a shot: there's a good mix of fun, romance, and horror, and some surprisingly well done sequences. Don't expect it to be a masterpiece, but don't let preconceived notions prevent you from seeing this, either.
Super Reviewer
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