Sugar Hill (1974)

 Happy Friday, my friends.

Zombie films and I don't get along that much. Zombies freak me out; and,I only enjoy a few zombie flicks. One day, I happened to start watching the movie Sugar Hill which had zombies more in align with Voudon. Once I started watching it, I was hooked

Diana "Sugar" Hill is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, who was murdered by local criminal named Morgan. She goes to the local Voodoo Queen Mama Maitresse played by Zara Cully. If you watched the Jeffersons, she was George Jefferson's mother! She asks her for help. Mama Maitresse calls on Baron Samedi to help Sugar.

  Baron Samedi comes in all his glory and he brings his powers to awaken the dead slaves who walked to their death more than a century ago in the. These zombies have silver eyes, with swords and clubs with cob webs around them.

Sugar promises Samedi she will give him a gift if he helps her. He agrees and then the fun begins. While the killings begin, Sugar's old bf who is now a cop played by Richard Lawson, gets on the case. He begins to suspect the unthinkable.

I won't tell you the rest because you just have to watch. Sugar Hill is played by Marki Bey, who is really beautiful and should be more well known. This is the first time I have heard of her.  I appreciate the African and Voudon influence of these Zombies which makes it more interesting to watch for me.

Of course, here is the trailer for you:

Dracula Untold

 

Kicking of October, which is one of my favorite months, with Dracula Untold starring Luke Evans.

This version of Dracula was to be the new origin story of the legendary character. Dracula to be part of the Universal Pictures' Dark Universe that included The Mummy.After the failure of the Mummy, the idea of the Dark Universe was scrapped which was a a shame.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Dracula. Luke Evans as the noble Prince Vlad. He must save his family and his people  from the Turks who want 1,000 of their boys to be part of their army.   Before this high handed edict is announced, Vlad finds a  strange creature in a cave that him and two of his soldiers found.

Vlad goes to the local monk about what he sees. He tells him it was once a man who wanted power from the a demon. He was tricked and now doomed to live out his days in the cave drinking blood.

The tagline in Dracula Untold is sometimes the world doesn't need a hero but a monster. So Vlad unwillingly to sacrifice his son and all the other boys in the kingdom, seeks out this creature and his power.

I won't tell you the rest of the story, you have to see it. Luke Evans is a charismatic actor, so you follow him happily through this new version of Dracula. The fight scenes were really good. I have seen many versions of Dracula over the years, it was great to see Dracula learn his abilities. See him do things I never saw another Dracula do.

If you like Dracula, vampires or Luke Evans, then go watch it. It is interesting and fun to watch. I could see how it could have been expanded on if they had actually did Dracula Untold 2.

Here's the trailer for all of you

Five on the Black Hand Side

Happy February, my friends. Happy Black History Month and Happy Love month. For me every day is Black History! 

I have heard of Five On The Black Hand Side (1973) for years but never saw it. I happened to turn on the grio channel and got to watch it. Some sweet soul uploaded on you tube in it's entirely which is why I am able to share it with all of you.  

 Mrs. Brooks played by the wonderful Clarice Taylor, who most people know as the grandmother from the Cosby Show, is tired of her chavunistic husband. The day before her daughter's wedding day, she decides to take a stand for her own happiness.

 It has a lot of familiar faces including Ja'Net Dubois, from Good Times, and Glynn Turman. It is a story about family and self liberation. A snapshot of the 70's with all its Black is Beautiful theme, embracing African heritage and generational clashes that resonates still today. I love to see someone redo the film. I enjoyed Five on the Black Hand Side. If you are interested, please watch it. You will not be disappointed.