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| A cena clássica |
1 BLÁCULA (BLACULA, USA, 1971) - Quando
foi lançado, BLÁCULA era uma forma de aproveitar o sucesso decadente dos filmes
de horror da Hammer e a ascensão do cinema blaxploitation do início da década
de 70, que eu particularmente adorava. A combinação dos dois gêneros resultou
num filme quase engraçado, quase aterrorizante, repleta de clichés, mas que
funciona. At the time of Blacula's release, studios such as American International
and Hammer were pumping out cheap horror flicks for an ever-thirsting legion of
young fans (myself included). At the same time, blaxploitation films were also
making big bank . . . so why not combine the two genres? It was a pure marketing
genius, backed by some of the biggest box offices of 1972. The great
Shakespearean actor William Marshall (Dr. Daystrom to you original Star Trek
fans) plays the tormented African prince magnificently; asleep for 200 years,
he awakes to find an African-American culture riddled with blaxploitation clichés.
It's bad enough such a dignified man has the hunger -- he also has to deal with
these people in giant heels and 'fros. The juxtaposition works as a statement
about what slavery did to African culture, but is never overtly mentioned. .
.after all, this is a horror flick too! Extra points for a musical appearance
by The Hughes Corporation (before their big hit, "Rock the Boat") and
a fine supporting performance by Denise Nicholas, a wonderful actress who
should have had a bigger career. More silly than scary, Blacula endures as a
unique film and pop-culture time capsule worth seeing.
