Bill Gunn directs Duane Jones, Marlene Clark and himself in this supernatural drama where after being stabbed with an ancient, germ-infested knife, a doctor’s assistant finds himself with an insatiable desire for blood.

As a serious black horror movie from an artistically motivated voice Ganja & Hess’ historical significance can not be disputed. As a vampire film from somebody who clearly had no interest in making a genre movie… as a coherent plot by somebody who might not know or care how to tell a story… as a piece of filmmaking collated from establishing and pick up shots with looping dubbed over them… it is all a bit shite. Isn’t it? Sorry to be one of those “white critics” but groundbreaking doesn’t excuse amateur hour bafflement. Interminable.

4

Perfect Double Bill: Blacula (1972)