Blacula (1972)

During the 1700’s an African Prince along with his beautiful bride are making a diplomatic trip to Castle Dracula. On behalf of their tribes people, Prince Mamuwalde has decided to ask the internationally powerful Dracula to assist helping to cease the slave trade, to which old whitey Drac instantly refuses. Mamuwalde is then bitten and cursed by Drac to be forever known as “Blacula”, who is then sealed in a coffin and along with his bride, left to rot in a hidden room. Flash ahead to modern day, well 1972 modern day, as two interior decorators have bought the castle. Planning to sell all the antiques within, the two pretty boys ship all the goods to the states, including that mysterious coffin they found in a hidden room. Before you can yell, “soul-train” Prince Mamuwalde is out and about, deciding to take in the local nightclub scene where he runs into his reincarnated love. Gee, what are the odds?

The rest is your typical vampire saga, surprisingly played straight and without much of an “urban” flavor to it, despite the obvious blaxploitation angle. Blacula is played by William Marshall, who gives the character a surprising amount of dignity, what with his height and booming voice. He also grows some funky sideburns whenever he’s in full vampire mode, and sports a pimp ass cape that makes all the brothers green with envy. There’s surprisingly a zero amount of blood and nudity, though we do get some decent vampire action and what not. There’s a cool scene in a warehouse where vampires seem to come out of the frigging walls, and Blacula’s love for his lost bride is actually somewhat touching. Plus, you’s just gots to dig all that 70’s jive talk that’s on display, and say, doesn’t Blacula’s lost love look a little like the ever foxy Beyonce Knowles? Worth a view if you ever come across it, and due to the lack of anything graphic, makes it a good watch for a younger monster fan.