Hey, it's Halloween!
Not to be a party pooper, but, frankly, I really could care less; so, don't look for any pictures of me in a Blacula costume or some ish like that, because it's not happening!
I hear Sergio is going to some swanky party in Chi-town dressed as Armond White!
All kidding aside… the horror film genre is one in which you won't find much content with stories that center around black characters.
I know Ice Cube said recently that, in this business, for black talent, comedy is the path of least resistance, which, while it might sound like bullshit to the ear, actually is easily proven when you consider the kinds of "black films" Hollywood often finances.
Sure there've been a few "black horror films" in years past, but few that I can truly call seminal pieces of work.
Here are some to consider…
There's Bill Gunn's landmark film, Ganja And Hess, which we've talked about a few times on this blog – a film that was ahead of its time when it was release in 1973, and, quite frankly, is still very much so today, in 2012.
Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention George Romero’s 1968 independent black-and-white zombie classic Night Of The Living Dead, which starred Duane Jones.
It's worth noting that after 1968's Night of the Living Dead, Duane Jones co-starred in 1973′s Ganja and Hess.
Other memorable titles include the aforementioned Blacula, The Beast Must Die (Calvin Lockhart starred), Tales From The Hood, Eddie Murphy's horrid Vampire In Brooklyn, Def By temptation, even Candyman is worth a mention.
There's also Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from Blacula director William Crain, Snoop Dogg's Bones, Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To … uh… I mean… uh… sorry, wrong list… and others…
Most recently, there's Attack The Block, the film that launched John Boyega's career.
What might you be watching on All Hallows' Eve, specifically when it comes to "black horror?" School me!
Here's a short back-story on Ganja & Hess: