My, What Big Fangs You Have!!
In 1972, when I was a child, I saw the trailer for "Blacula" at the theatre and always wanted to see it. Years later, I finally have and was not disappointed. I don't care if it's considered a "blaxploitation" film. It is merely a horror movie with characters who are primarily African-American. Count Dracula's depiction as a racist was a great idea; it is not farfetched considering that he has little respect for human life. Prince Mamuwalde begs Dracula to help him end the slave trade. Instead, Dracula curses him with vampirism and gives him a new name; the prince of darkness wants Prince Mamuwalde to be a "black version" of himself, thus he deems him "Blacula." I don't care for the name myself. It sounds racist and Dracula must've intended it to be that way. Mamuwalde is released from his coffin with an incredible hunger that he can't control. He makes a meal out of two gay interior decorators and the nightmare begins. Soon the vampires are multiplying in L.A, threatening to become an epidemic. (This reminds me of Stephen King's "Salem's Lot," which involves an entire town infested with vampirism.) If the police don't act fast, a plague of vampires will overcome L.A. This fast-paced movie has a great deal of action from beginning to end, and a high body count. The acting is good; the cast is composed of attractive African-Americans who were popular in the seventies. The vampires in this movie are extremely ghoulish and grotesque. They gave me the creeps. Some of those vampire women had fangs that would have shamed a sabre tooth tiger. They were long!! The movie also a strong romantic element. Mamuwalde is pursuing a beautiful, young woman who reminds him of his deceased wife. If only that meddlesome coroner wasn't getting in the way. My favorite scene: When the coroner and the police are tricked into going into a warehouse where they are trapped and beset upon by numerous vampires that are simply hideous. "Blacula" would be fun to watch as a double feature with "Dracula A.D. 1972." Both have a lot of hippie music and slang. "Blacula" is a welcomed addition to anyone's collection of vampire movies or Hammer films. I would've given it five stars if not for the overuse of certain prejudice terms that may have been appropriate for the seventies but are considered rude and offensive today.

Great twist on an old tale
Being a big fan of classic and modern vampire films, i was a bit skeptical about Blacula when i first heard about it. After watching it, i can say it is one of the better "Vampire in modern times" films. William Marshal plays the creepy count, who, in another life was tricked by the real count Dracula and sentenced to live for eternity with the curse, and i quote"..I curse you with my name, you will be know as...BLACULA"! The film, released back in 1972 was at the time, pretty daring for the horror venue, but it did draw some crowds and has today become a cult classic. Marshall has poise, charm and sophistication and plays the count with gracefull ease. It has it's scary moments and action as well. I enjoyed it and i'm sure that if you are a fan of Vampire films, so will you! And don't forget the sequel...."Scream, Blacula, Scream", also played by marshall....His bite is outta site! Great movie!!

Truly an awesome vampire film to date
One of the most odd but yet, awesome in mind, vampire films out there today. Marshall portrays a very cool hip vamp, but, don't let it fool you, cause it can cause a wonderful great scare as well. This movie, brought back some great memories of my youth and i truly highly recommended it very much.

It Was Alright
I certainly wasn't scared. This movie was so cheesy, it was funny. So at least I had a good laugh. William Marshall was a great actor and it's a shame you don't see many actors like him around anywmore.

Through The Black Of Night, I Gotta Go Where You Are
Nothing like being prone to nostalgia!

This fun campy piece came right between Kent State and Nixon's re-election, and remains one of the most amusing entries in exploitation cinema.

The whole affair would be wasted but for the splendid performance of Shakespearean trained actor William Marshall, who brought a dignity to a film that would have been otherwise doomed to pure silliness. Through his efforts, "Blacula," which, under the perennial reign of Samuel Z. Arkoff, was lifted to a quality purely based on the strengths of one individual.

It must be remembered that "black rights" were not exactly warmly received back then. We as a nation were hot off the heels of the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and some other general socio/political/economic upheavals that were very unwelcome by the powers that be.

This film was daring not only in the "blaxploitation" sense, but also in its depiction of homosexuality, still then a very much "taboo" subject...

Horror films have always been fertile ground for the "taboo," and this little film is no exception. It has it's flaws, to be sure, but, for a low budget production, it holds its own.

And, on 1970's television, it was a bit creepy!

Great fun throughout.