Just in time for Halloween, here’s a joke circulating on social media about a horror movie with an all-Black cast:
Character One: “Ayo, what’s going down in ya basement?”
Character Two: “That ain’t my business.”
Character One: “I feel ya.”
Roll credits …
Funny, but not so fun for moviegoers expecting feature-length films to provide thrills and chills for 90 minutes or more. Fortunately, there are plenty of horror movies featuring predominantly Black casts to make your skin crawl during Halloween season. Some are iconic, going back to the 1960s. Some are spun from cloth of the Blaxploitation era of the 1970s. Others are more contemporary, dealing with race and body transference.
The OBSERVER asked Vincent Dee Miles, a Sacramento-based actor, director and producer, to share his list of the five-best Black horror films. Miles’ screen credits include his role as the “screaming hunter” in “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” Locally, he is the director of CINE SOUL – part of the Sacramento International Film Festival. He has overseen the screening of hundreds of films that celebrate the African cinema diaspora.
See if you agree with his choices. Action, Vince!
1. “NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” (1968)
2. “BLACULA” (1972)
Seeing Dracula turn into a Black man was quite frightening to say the least. As a kid, I kept wondering if I was going to find out that one of my long lost relatives was “Blacula” or one of the other Black vampires. You all know how it goes down at our family reunions sometimes. All kinds of secrets and mysteries become known and revealed. William Marshall had one of the best baritone voices and was perfect for the title role.
3. “CANDYMAN”
For the record I AM NOT SAYING THAT NAME … I’m not going to take the chance of “That Man” sticking his pirate hook into my intestines. On top of that, “That Man” may have some of those bees planted too. So, I’m good. On a side note, Tony Todd, who played “That Man,” played the lead role in the remake of “THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.”
4. “TALES FROM THE HOOD” (1995)
My first experience with actor Clarence Williams III was watching him play Linc Hayes in “Mod Squad.” Playing Prince’s father in “Purple Rain” was the next experience. But seeing him play a Crypt Keeper-type character in this film was downright too creepy for me.
5. “GET OUT” (2017)
This is a modern-day “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” gone bad … really, really bad. I’m talking about the point if you’re in a relationship and you have to go somewhere deep in “the cut” to meet the parents … request to do a Zoom call.
Honorable Mention
“MEET THE BLACKS” (2016)
My dude Deon Taylor is a Sactown director/producer who, along with his amazing wife/producer partner Roxanne Avent Taylor, are making Hollywood films. It was an intelligent move to venture into the horror genre, albeit in a satirical, comedic vein. Please check out some of Deon and Roxanne’s films from other genres, as you will see they produce quality movies.
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