Grindhouse

Blacula

Urban action and fatal attraction give rise to a groove from beyond the grave in this funkadelic, fangadelic soul cinema sensation! The eternally cool William Marshall puts a fresh spin on the age-old legend of the vampire condemned to wander the earth with an insatiable lust for blood. In 1780, African prince Mamuwalde (Marshall) pays a visit to count Dracula in Transylvania, seeking his support in ending the slave trade. Instead, the evil Count curses his noble guest and transforms him into a vampire! Released from his coffin nearly two centuries later by a pair of luckless interior decorators, Mamuwalde emerges as Blacula, one strange due strollin’ the streets of L.A. on a nightly quest for human blood! (MGM)

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde trades Dr. Jekyll’s Victorian London digs for the poverty stricken streets of Watts, where a Free Clinic doubles as a Thrift Store, and a cape wearing pimp named Silky trolls lounges for hookers. This mid-70’s Blaxploitation film stars the charismatic Bernie Casey as Dr. Henry Pride, an award winning doctor that’s developed a serum that might cure liver disease – with side effects. The side effects include, but are not limited to: killing hookers, kidnapping, and climbing the Watts Tower. The situation gets downright “insalubrious” when Mr. Hyde puts “some shit into the game.” William Crain (The Mod Squad, Blacula) directs, with make-up by the legendary Stan Winston.

Marc Edward Heuck discusses Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde on the New Beverly blog.