Blacula is a film that bridges the gap between Blaxploitation and the classic horrors films of the early 1940s. The film is centered around an 18th century African prince who after being bitten by Count Dracula is cursed to live with being a vampire in the 1970s Los Angeles. William Marshall stars as the titular character Blacula, also known as Prince Mamuwalde. The movie also stars Denise Nicholas as Michelle, Vonetta McGee as Tina/Luva (Blacula's love interests), Thalmus Rasulala as Dr. Gordon Thomas, and Gordon Pinsent as Lieutenant Jack Peters. The film is directed by William Crane, serving as the second and most notable movie in his filmography.
The story of the film is cut and dry, however it serves as a sharp contradiction to the stereotypical portrayals of the Dracula character. Mamuwalde is the film's protagonist. He is a noble man served a cold fate. In contrast to the traditional depictions of Dracula, Mamuwalde is not a villain. Rather, he's an innocent man burdened by the trauma displaced on him by a colonial Dracula. His goal is to reunite with his wife and live in peace. However, external factors force his hands to act against his better judgment. The brightest spot of Blacula is the dialogue writing. Each character is clever and dynamic. The titular character is written the best. Often it feels unnatural for Mamuwalde to be the "monster." Additionally, Dr. Gordan Thomas is written to be very intelligent. The character's "no nonsense" attitude balances the wackiness of the film's heavy Blaxploitation elements. Much of the film's depth comes from Mamuwalde and Dr. Gordon Thomas. The film successfully builds toward a conflict between both parties. Neither are "antagonists," rather each are fighting for the security of their loved ones. Narratively, the film is far from horror. The horror and gore serve as a "action" to the Blaxploitation tropes, as well as the drama-esque tone. Blacula is an amalgamation of genres. At times, the genre-bending works. Other times, it does not work. Largely, the film has an identity crisis.
The acting is relatively average. The cast's chemistry ranges from solid to awkward. Scenes where Mamuwalde joins Tina, Michelle, and Dr. Thomas are typically awkward. However, scenes where each character spends time one-on-one showcases the group's allure. The side characters of the film add humor and depth. Background characters such as Sam, Skillet, Bobby, Billy, Juanita, and Nancy lend support to the main cast of characters. Each background character adds a different emotional element toward the film's central plot. Additionally, each actor lends believability to their character. Portrayals are not ground breaking. The acting is not a masterwork. However, it is simple and effective nonetheless.
The cinematography is average. At times, the film suffers from choppiness and amateur editing. Tension building is well crafted. The scenes with horror elements are technically the film's best moments. The film's makeup and costume design ranges from great to terrible. The makeup used from Black actors works well, whereas their white counterparts suffer from looking too green/gray. Blacula does not excel in the realm of cinematography, however there are engaging moments in the film.
Overall, Blacula is an average Blaxploitation flick that adds to the horror genre in terms of the representation of Black culture. However, it is an combination of genres that does not entirely work. The film is guided by dynamic characters and solid dialogue, while simultaneous lacking from a technical standpoint. It is an undead contradiction that is cursed with an identity crisis.
The story of the film is cut and dry, however it serves as a sharp contradiction to the stereotypical portrayals of the Dracula character. Mamuwalde is the film's protagonist. He is a noble man served a cold fate. In contrast to the traditional depictions of Dracula, Mamuwalde is not a villain. Rather, he's an innocent man burdened by the trauma displaced on him by a colonial Dracula. His goal is to reunite with his wife and live in peace. However, external factors force his hands to act against his better judgment. The brightest spot of Blacula is the dialogue writing. Each character is clever and dynamic. The titular character is written the best. Often it feels unnatural for Mamuwalde to be the "monster." Additionally, Dr. Gordan Thomas is written to be very intelligent. The character's "no nonsense" attitude balances the wackiness of the film's heavy Blaxploitation elements. Much of the film's depth comes from Mamuwalde and Dr. Gordon Thomas. The film successfully builds toward a conflict between both parties. Neither are "antagonists," rather each are fighting for the security of their loved ones. Narratively, the film is far from horror. The horror and gore serve as a "action" to the Blaxploitation tropes, as well as the drama-esque tone. Blacula is an amalgamation of genres. At times, the genre-bending works. Other times, it does not work. Largely, the film has an identity crisis.
The acting is relatively average. The cast's chemistry ranges from solid to awkward. Scenes where Mamuwalde joins Tina, Michelle, and Dr. Thomas are typically awkward. However, scenes where each character spends time one-on-one showcases the group's allure. The side characters of the film add humor and depth. Background characters such as Sam, Skillet, Bobby, Billy, Juanita, and Nancy lend support to the main cast of characters. Each background character adds a different emotional element toward the film's central plot. Additionally, each actor lends believability to their character. Portrayals are not ground breaking. The acting is not a masterwork. However, it is simple and effective nonetheless.
The cinematography is average. At times, the film suffers from choppiness and amateur editing. Tension building is well crafted. The scenes with horror elements are technically the film's best moments. The film's makeup and costume design ranges from great to terrible. The makeup used from Black actors works well, whereas their white counterparts suffer from looking too green/gray. Blacula does not excel in the realm of cinematography, however there are engaging moments in the film.
Overall, Blacula is an average Blaxploitation flick that adds to the horror genre in terms of the representation of Black culture. However, it is an combination of genres that does not entirely work. The film is guided by dynamic characters and solid dialogue, while simultaneous lacking from a technical standpoint. It is an undead contradiction that is cursed with an identity crisis.