By: Claudio “Brownula” Cortés 

The cultural tail on today’s movie is longer than one would anticipate. When it comes to vampire films, this film stands alone as the starting point towards further diversity and inclusion in the horror genre, albeit via the ultra problematic white gaze that gave the world the “Blaxploitation” genre. It could be argued that without today’s move there would be no Blade, or 1995’s A Vampire in Brooklyn, or even Blackenstein, all films where the narrative is drive by Black characters both as the protagonist and villain, a departure from the odd fetishization and outright racism of pervious horror films that featured Black characters like 1932’s White Zombie. There is a fantastic documentary that explores the history far better than I am qualified to do called Horror Noire : A History of Black Horror that I recommend you watch as a companion to today’s viewing. 

If you have not guessed it yet, today’s film recommendation is the 1972 genre breaking classic Blacula. If ever there was a film that would benefit from a remake and generous, more modern re-write it is this one. Monster aside, Blacula is a love story and commentary on racism. The main character is Prince Mamualde, an African noblemen sent to Europe to secure alliances with the powers that be to end the global slave trade, this is how the prince and his wife, Luva, end up at the notorious Castle Dracula. Given that the old Romanian count was a racist, he imprisons Mamualde and Luva by walling them into a dungeon, but not before punishing Mamualde for daring to speak up to him with the curse of vampirism and dubbing him Blacula for eternity. Some years go by and yada yada yada Blacula ends up in modern day Los Angeles (1972) and the vampire shenanigans begin.  

You can watch this movie and form your own opinion on it over at Amazon Prime for free with membership Click HERE to go directly to the film

Today’s song is El Vámpiro Chupetón by Los Del Tepito a lovely cumbia to get you through your Tuesday. 

Keep up with the playlist as it builds Here

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