SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM (1973)
Following the success of the first BLACULA film, AIP were
confident in producing a sequel the next year and managed to inject some {ahem}
fresh blood into the formula in a number of ways.
Keeping the continuity of the classy lead actor William
Marshall as the urbane Mamuwalde, this time the same writing team of Koenig and
Torres add something new to the plot and also greater humorous flavour (or
flava?) to the dialogue. Firstly, the added exoticism here of voodoo mythology
became almost a sub-genre itself within Blaxploitation horror, used the same
year in the Blax-inspired Bond film LIVE AND LET DIE and in 1974 with ABBY and
(ZOMBIES OF) SUGAR HILL.
The vampire master is resurrected by Willis (Richard Lawson,
having a whale of a time) who believes he can have Blacula serve him. The poor
deluded cat is soon disabused via the medium of fangs and on being sucked into
vampirism himself is depressed at his inability to preen at his now-absent
reflection: “I don’t mind bein’ a vampire and all dat shit, but this ain’t
hip!”
Later, as Blacula elegantly prowls the city, after a dodgy
bat/human optical transmutation, there is more inventive fish-out-of-water
cultural comedy mined when he is perplexed by the availability of a modern hooker
offering her services on the street. His old-world breeding is lost for how to
respond to such a direct offer of female sexuality. When along roll her pimps teasing: “Don’t you
dig our merchandise?” they attempt to mug him. He gracefully deflects their
threats of violence with “As for ‘kicking my ass’ I strongly recommend you give
it some consideration before trying” – and promptly makes nourishing use of
them.
Another cast member who clearly has fun with his lines is
the weary but heroic Michael Conrad as Lt Dunlop (later to find fame as Sgt
‘Hey, let’s be careful out there’ Esterhas in HILL STREET BLUES). He crosses
wits with ex-cop Justin Carter (Don Mitchell) before helping him to raid the
Mamuwalde house in the vampire battle.
Fans of the TV series SOAP and ROOTS will also recognise the lovely
Lynne Moody as Denny.
Pam Grier is another welcome sight in the movie, although as
voodoo devotee Lisa Fortier she seems a little awkward, possibly finding it
difficult to essay a more subservient type than the strong action heroine she
plays in other Blaxploitation vehicles. Either way, she gets to perform the
all-important dispatching of Blacula at the end, stabbing pins into a voodoo
doll till he expires staring up at the heavens.
Overall, SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM is a fun fresh sequel –
however if the franchise continued I could imagine it suffering from the same
flaw as the later Christopher Lee DRACULA instalments; namely that as the
supporting parts grow in interest, William Marshall may well have become
increasingly marginalised to virtual guest-star status. The studio closed the
coffin lid before the entertainment turned to a bloodless husk...
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