SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM is a sequel to the original landmark black horror flick, BLACULA--although it’s the kind of sequel that can stand on it’s own. If you’re curious about the origins of Blacula, don’t worry, they wrap it up in a nice flashback about 20 minutes in.
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I am a fan of William Marshall, and his performance as Blacula in both films, but I’ve found the “Blacula” movies themselves to be unremarkable. The original BLACULA is a fun little flick and it has some good moments, but ultimately I've always felt it was lacking. SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM is better in a few ways, but it also suffers a bit due to a lack of an interesting plot…a plot that is very predictable from the get go.
The soundtrack is groovy….yet, forgettable. The film is full of style and Pam Grier is in it, looking F.I.N.E.-- FINE! She kind of sleepwalks her way through her role, but I’d watch a movie of Pam Grier reading the Wall Street Journal, so it didn’t matter to me. No topless scenes here, which sucks, because Pam’s rack is Fantastic! So I'll add one from a different movie for my review...
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Ah! That's better. Where was I?
The story starts off well enough, as a Voodoo cult watches as their head priestess dies on her deathbed. Willis, her son, claims to be the rightful heir, but the group wants Lisa, her adopted daughter-- played by Grier-- to be the next high priestess. This of course ticks off Willis, and he summons up ‘Blacula’ through a firey voodoo ritual. When Blacula arrives, Willis is his first victim, turning him into his Reinfield--or I guess it would Blackfield. Whatever the case, Willis is the most stylish Reinfeild to ever be portrayed on film.
Through a flashback, we are reminded that Blacula was an African Prince that had a curse put on him that turned him into Blacula. Prince Mammalookaboomboomday or whatever the fuck his real name was, is not happy with his current resurrection and wants the curse removed. So when Blacula goes to a little shindig thrown by Lisa and her boyfriend, Justin—he discovers that she is a very powerful in the ways of voodoo and she may be able to lift the curse once and for all. This all pisses off Willis, because his whole reason for resurrecting Blacula was to get revenge on Lisa. Whoops! Oh well, at least you still have your looks…
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Okay maybe not. Sorry, Willis.
While Blacula works his mojo on Lisa, he slowly collects a group on minions along the way—including a hot white chick—naturally. He verbally abuses all of them--Although verbal abuse coming from William Marshall’s mouth still sounds smoooooooth.
The rest of the film, like the first BLACULA, gets into crime thriller territory as the cops try to figure out who is killing people and draining them of blood. Lisa’s boyfriend, Justin, a cop, played by Don Mitchell, helps in the ivestigation. Mitchell, BTW, must have been the inspiration for Tim Meadows’, SNL character, The Ladies Man…
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The film reminded me of Eurohorror from the 70’s… in other words it moved along kind of sloooow. Theres not a whole lot of action, and its lack of nudity is a crime—especially with Pam Grier in the film—c’mon, people! For the most part, it seemed the director, Bob Kelljan was trying to make a serious horror film with touches of humor—but he skimped on the fun stuff that most Blaxploitation movies feature like over the top violence, sex and action. If he was going for straight horror, it didn’t work. I’m not a fan of “jump out go boo” type scares, but the film could have benefited from a few more of those, because the few it did have were pretty good.
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Overall it’s the plot that hurts the film the most. There’s no substance here at all. We know exactly how it’s all gonna’ go down and it ‘does’ go down just that way. That could have been forgiven if the ending had been worth a shit. Talk about your anticlimactic endings…this was just pathetic. If you’re gonna make a movie with a slow rolling plot, that is fine but—at least have the decency to give us a bang at the end, then one just ends with a fizzle.
The only reason to watch either of the Blacula films is for the performance of William Marshall. It’s a shame that the man was stuck in these two mediocre vampire movies because he is a great Dracula! One of the all time best! I have no problem saying he is in the same league as Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee—when it comes to actors that’s flat out own the role of Dracula. Instead, this great actor gets these two bland Dracula flicks then ends up as the King of Cartoons on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. Where is the justice people?!
The other standout performance in the film is Richard Lawson as Willis, the angry pimp. Looking a bit like Prince in his early days…..
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Lawson brings some intentional humor to the film and the two times I laughed out loud in the film were because of his character. The scene after he becomes a vampire and realizes he can’t see his own reflection, to check outhow he looks is hilarious—as his character is very ‘into’ himself. Watching him ask Blacula, with all seriousness… “Hey, man, how do I look?” was my favorite scene in the film.
So, lets wrap this one up in a nice little bow, shall we?
The film really doesn’t have that much to offer, so I can’t see recommending it. If you just love all vampire movies or you’re a blaxploitation completist like myself, I’d say go for it, if not—I did you a solid for saving you from taking the time to see it yourself. You’re welcome.
SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM trailer