Rating: 
Summary: Pure camp
Review: Blacula (William Crain, 1972)How many wonderfully bad films did Sam Arkoff give the public? (According to IMDB, a hundred thirty-nine.) This one was right smack dab in the middle, the first big-screen feature for a rising star named William Crain, who went on to be a big name in TV episode directing (The Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch, et al.). How wrong can you go with a film whose trailer excalimed "he's Dracula's soul brother!"? Not too far, as it turns out. This is a wild and wonderful piece of pure camp. An African prince, Mawatunde (William Marshall) and his wife Luva (Vonetta McGee) are sent to Europe in 1780 to protest the slave trade, and they appeal to a certain count in transylvania. Mawatunde gets offended when Dracula lusts after his wife publicly and... well, you can guess the rest of that part. Mawatunde is awakened almost two hundred years later after he's been transported to LA by a couple of ultra-hep antiques dealers, where-- surprise of surprises-- he comes across the reincarnation of his wife! Priceless stuff. You can't make comedy this funny. *** 1/2
Rating: 
Summary: One of the funniest Horror movies ever made!
Review: Don't view "Blacula" expecting it to be very scary because it is not. This has got to be one of the funniest HORROR movies ever made. The plot is totally ludicrous. Basically, Blacula somehow comes back to life in the modern day (1970's) Los Angeles when two super hip gay interior directors buy the casket. The guy who played "Bobby", one of the victims of Blacula is totally hilarious. Basically, once he comes back to life, he goes out at night for victims. Then he see's an exact replica of his murdered wife, played by Vonetta McGee. He does whatever he can to get her. The police look like Keystone Cops up against Blacula. The hero of the movie, who many remember from the old TV show "What's Happening" as the father does a good job with a corny, cheesy script. This movie was made when it was popular to make black movie in the early 1970's. It was just thrown together to cash in on that time. It is not one of the greatest movie ever made, so don't go look at it expecting much.
Rating:
Summary: Superior! Great film--
Review: Gary, Ind. born William Marshall adds real pathos to the perennial movie villain of the vampire-- dumbed down and familar ever since Bela Lugosi, Marshall made him aristocratic on a level comparable to Christopher Lee's Dracula in the Hammer Films.. There is much political allegory to be seen in this film, as the black monarch is attacked and 'enslaved' by European vampire-colonialism, and subsequently, becomes as obsessed with blood-lust as they are-- feeding on his own people and perpetuating a bizarre form of genocide-- much to the chagrin of his contemporaries in Watts. Mamuwalde is aware of what he has become, and hates it-- but, seemingly, can do nothing about it-- is the curse of racism, essentially, too great to overcome?
Rating: 
Summary: Hm...perhaps it would be tasty with a little ketchup...
Review: Hey, waiter! Pass the salt! That's about how I felt after watching this movie for the first time. Sadly, my local Blockbuster, being as mildly racist as possible, decided not to carry this timeless blaxploitation classic, but thankfully, my local FYE did, so $9 poorer, I brought it home. It's things like this that make me realize what all you can buy for $9...from nails, to glue, to repo'd cars. The music was, quite thankfully, absent from this flick, because the music that was present, oddly and scarily enough, put an eternal and immutable disgrace on the HARPSICHORD. The plot, too, is thankfully absent, because I refuse to allow myself to believe that anything of this nature (read: BAD) was "written"; I prefer "conceived" or "vomited" or "pulled out of a 'bad movie' dimensional vortex". This guy named Marmalade...er, "Mumwaldi", decides to go to Count Dracula to end the slave trade. Now perhaps I'm not the greatest history buff, but I thought Dracula was more into landing on the MOON than he was involved in the slave trade. So, in a truly "shocking" (read: this movie has to drag on for more than 3 minutes), and slightly creepy change of events, Dracula changes Mumwaldi into a vampire, and says, in his cheesy Transylvanian accent, "I curse you with my name...you shall be known as Blacula...blah!!!!"...cut forward to the 1970's (thank God it's not 'present day' anymore, if this film shows what life was like back then), and two extremely fruity, supremely hammed up interior decorators come in, wanting to buy Blacula's coffin. They take it to LA...and it was probably the 10,000,000 or so pollutants in the air that no doubt awakened him from his centuries-old slumber. Naturally, Mumwaldi decides to get his groove on and check out the night life, while only killing crackers and those curious interior decorators...probably the only 'service' he provided in this whole film. Anyways, this cop/detective/doctor/vet/proctologist/astronaut/middle aged black guy finds out Mumwaldi's real identity, proving that at least someone, even if not the writer, in this movie has the intelligence of a 5 year old. A chase ensues, and some cracker-bashing and lame fight scenes later...well, that's a secret. I must say that this was one of the "best" movies MST3K never did, and I must say that "Blacula" has left an indelible mark on me that 3 lifetimes could never erase.
Rating: 
Summary: very cheesy movie but quite entertaining
Review: I bought the movie blacula because it would be a classic thing to have, but the first time i saw it was when it was listed under HORROR in the video store. This movie turns more into a comedy in my point of view just because of the funky music in the background and the cheesy special effects. I enjoyed it though because the name BLACULA itself brought a smile to my face. Buy it if you want something to add to your collection of corny movies.
Rating:
Summary: kinda funky
Review: I bought this movie because i am a fan of Blacksploitation movies and if u like thses u will love this. With it's funky music and costumes.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie!
Review: i saw this for the first time on Black stars back in october and i been inticipating to see it for years! its a very good movie! i love vampire movies from the 30's 40's 50's 60's and few from the 70's which is the only type ill watch!!! only 5 movies vamp movies from the 70's is what i like which includes this! Yorga! Satanic rites of dracula! love at first bite and Nosferatu The Vampyre's remake! considering im only 16 years old this movie is a action pack classic 70's african american classic!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope the KKK dont read this review considering im white! Lol
Rating:
Summary: Flashback 1970's Scary Fun
Review: I use to watch this late nites on channel 5 or 9, great scary fun. I am happy to see it fully restored by MGM the DVD has only the original Trailer and it would have been nice if they had added some extras as Anchor Bay does with most of the great horror titles they distribute. William Marshall who later made apperances in Pee Wee's playhouse is what makes this movie stand out. Fun twist on the Dracula theme with an almost all black cast and lotsa 70's themes. This movie is no spoof,but a scary action packed horror film which has humor in all the right places. The sequel tho is not as good. I also recomend The Return of Count Yorga which is on VHS only i think, as another 70's scary fun film. Worth buying and adding to your Horror collection.
Rating:
Summary: One Bad Ass Brother
Review: I was greatly pleased with this movie!
The acting of the main characters was excelent, and the story was great!
I recommend this to any movie fan.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Turn On The Old Vampire Legend
Review: I've always had a particular fondness for this film which I believe was a "first" in a lot of ways in 1972, but rather sadly it seems to now be regarded as a bit of a joke by alot of modern audiences more's the pity. Released in early 1972 just as the Vampire cycle of films in both America and England was coming to a close "Blacula", provided a unique twist on the Vampire legend and presented us with a very urbane black Vampire played by deep voiced William Marshall. His vampire is ultimately quite a tragic figure when you learn the facts of how he got to that state and Marshall in his performance is not only up to carrying on the vampire legend but also manages to depict his character for most part in a highly sympathetic light that breathed life into the old legend. "Blacula", begins it's story in 1780 when the elders of an African race send one of their princes Manuwalde on a special mission to Transylvania to seek out Count Dracula's assistance in putting an end to the illegal slave trade which is being carried out by westerners in their country. Unfortunately Manuwalde and his beautiful wife Luva (Vonetta McGee)do not find a sympathetic audience in the Count who proceeds to attack Luva and when Manuwalde goes to her defense he finds himself knocked out by Dracula's followers and placed in a coffin with Dracula then placing the curse of the undead upon him and closing him up in a sealed chamber of his castle for all eternity. The story then shifts forward to 1972 when Dracula's Castle is being emptied of its contents and two antique dealers purchase not only some of the antiques but as a curio the coffin which holds the undead remains of Manuwalde. Shipped back to Los Angeles the coffin is opened and Manuwalde begins his reign of terror killing both of the young antique sellers. Stalking the streets for fresh victims for his blood lust Manuwalde comes across young Tina who is the absolute reincarnation of his long dead wife Luva and he begins a frantic courtship of her in the hope of getting his beloved wife back. The murders of Los Angeles residents however continue with the same suspicious bite marks appearing on the victims. These arouse the suspicions of Tina's brother in law Dr. Gordon Thomas who begins to connect the strange Manuwalde with the murders. When night club photographer Nancy is killed just as she is developing some photos of Tina with Manuwalde the finished film reveals a blank where he was standing. Now that Dr. Thomas knows Manuwalde's real identity, the chase is then on to track him down and keep him away from Tina. She however has fallen in love with the Prince and has completely fallen under his spell. After a scary encounter with Manuwalde and his disciples in a disused warehouse the doctor and police track down his resting place to an electric plant where in the ensuring fight Tina is mistakedly shot. Laying her to rest the broken hearted Manuwalde sees no purpose in continuing and in the ultimate sacrifice evades his pursuers and runs out into the early morning light allowing himself to disintergrate into dust in time honoured Vampire tradition. Passed off as trendy and dated hip action by today's audiences I find this story an original and interesting one. William Marshall as the cursed Blacula of the title does an outstanding job in the role of the tormented man with the curse of the undead on him who sees a chance at second happiness. His vampire while undoubtedly savage and blood thirsty is allowed to display his sadder side in particular in his scenes with Tina over the losses he has experienced in life. Vonetta McGee in the two roles of Tina / Luva also gives a great performance as the young girl drawn to the mysterious stranger who claims she is his wife brought back to life despite knowing what he actually is. Most of the black characters depicted in "Blacula", are surprisingly postive ones with Dr. Thomas played by Thalmus Rasulala being a medical investigator who is always two steps ahead of the police in their investigations. The only dated characters in the otherwise intelligent story are the two antique dealers that are unfortunately depicted as gay stereotypes but apart from that it is a pleasing film in the acting department. The 1970's feel to the story is well presented and the flashback beginning at Dracula's Castle is also top quality. The film abounds with many eerie and quite frigtening moments such as the female Cab drivers rising from the dead in the Morgue and attacking the night worker (Elisha Cook), Manuwalde's transformations into a Vampire Bat and his attacks on the photographer in the dark room and the attack in the Warehouse are all standout scenes that earn "Blacula", its proper place in modern horror circles. Very seventies in its feel and choice of accompanying music that is part of "Blacula's", charm and are elements which we as an audience almost 30 years later should not be too judgemental about. Being a great fan of vampire films I believe that "Blacula", is a worthy late edition to the Vampire horror movie group along with the also interesting "Count Yorga, Vampire" of the same period. "Blacula", contains some humour and is well balanced in its storytelling and in its horror elements making for very entertaining viewing if you are a fan of this genre. Sit back and enjoy possibly the first black vampire to grace horror movies. William Marshall with his regal bearing and deep sensual voice makes a most interesting vampire and really gives this story its chief interest with his portrayal. Enjoy!
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