Blaxploitation Best of the Worst

My boy, Dollar Bill the Hot Tub Don (pronounced all at once like A Tribe Called Quest), and I were discussing one of my favorite subjects, Blaxploitation films, when he made the cogent observation that once the genre proved profitable, people just began turning out any old thing to make a dollar. So we put together a list of what we believe to be the worst Blaxploitation movies of all time. They are arranged in descending order.

Thing with Two Heads (1972)

This one starred ex-NFL pro-bowler Rosie Greer, but that didn’t make it any better. It appears to borrow heavily from Sidney Poitier’s The Defiant Ones.

Black Samson (1974)

One word—corny! Went absolutely overboard with the Blaxploitation shtick. Lot of recognizable Blaxploitation actors and actesses though.

Black Gestapo (1975)

Also known as The Black Enforcers and Ghetto Warriors. This one stars Charles Robinson (remember Mac from Nightcourt?) as a black revolutionary leader. ‘Nuff said? Nazis must have been absolutely pissed about this one.

Sugar Hill—Voodoo Zombie (1974)

I actually kind of liked this one. But for sentimental reasons. Dollar Bill the Hot Tub Don firmly rejected it. You be the judge.

Do you agree? Are there others you would like to add? Let us know!

BaadAsssss Cinema: A Bold Look at 70's Blaxploitation Films

For you Blaxploitation aficionados out there who share the same affinity for the genre as I do, I got a new one for you. Or maybe you’ve seen this one before, but it’s definitely worth mentioning.

Last night on the IFC channel, I caught director Issac Julien’s (Looking for Langston; Young Soul Rebels; The Darker Side of Black) 2003 documentary Baadasssss Cinema - A Bold Look at 70's Blaxploitation Films. Of course, I dug it. But then again I’m not impartial. You can check out about ten minutes of the start of the film below.


It’s not a comprehensive overview of the period, but it does serve as a very good overview. The documentary includes interviews and commentary from Blaxploitation actors such as Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, and Richard Roundtree. Directors Melvin Van Peebles and Quentin Tarantino contribute as does renowned social critic bell hooks.

After you check out the clip, if you want to check out the complete documentary you can click this link or click the product link above to purchase the DVD from Amazon.com.

The Return of Blaxploitation: Black Dynamite Trailer

Now you know the soulbrother loves a good blaxploitation flick [see this previous post]. Seems like a new one is due to hit theaters in September 2009. Director Scott Sanders and writer Miichael Jai White previously screened the film at the Sundance Film Festival, and it was picked up by Sony Worldwide Acquistions.

And check out this cast: Miichael Jai White, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Obba Babatunde, Kym Whitley, Mykelti Williamson, Bokeem Woodbine, Kevin Chapman, Tommy Davidson, John Salley, Chris Spencer, Phil Morris, Brian McKnight, and Arsenio Hall.

I’m looking forward to this one, but I think I’ll check it out before four o’clock when the tickets are half-price.



Click this link for additional film information and a synopsis.