I'm not (yet) an expert in the field of blaxploitation-cinema but, being a huge horror fan, I was particularly interested in the "black" interpretations of classic horror tales. "Blacula" is supposed to be a lot better than the other ones (like "Blackenstein", "Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde" and "Abby"), but still this film couldn't really fascinate me. The pre-credits opening sequence is terrific and hugely atmospheric, as it involves a flashback set in Transylvania during the year 1780, where the black prince Mamuwalde and his adorable fiancée Luva visit Count Dracula's castle, hoping he'll support them in their quest to end slavery. Unfortunately for them, Dracula is a big supporter of slave trade and the dinner party ends in horror. Mamuwalde is eternally cursed with Dracula's bite and doomed to sleep in a coffin for the next two centuries. The script lowers in quality as soon as the action is transferred to Los Angeles; present day. Two extremely gay interior decorators purchase the relics of Dracula's ancient castle and resurrect Blacula from his coffin. Instead of running amok in the crime-infested ghettos and/or using his newly gained vampire-talents to continue fighting the white man's tyranny, Blacula just acts like a pitiful romanticist and stalks the gorgeous Tina, who he considers to be the reincarnation of his lost fiancée Luva. Perhaps the plot leans much closer to Bram Stoker's original novel, but I assumed these Blaxploitation-films are all about bad-ass brothers, groovy action and sheer 70's camp? The sequences in the local morgue, where Blacula's victims return to life as vampire slaves, are mildly suspenseful and creepy, but Blacula himself is a colorless (pun intended) anti-hero with no menacing charisma whatsoever. The make-up effects are ingenious and groovy, though. Whenever his thirst for blood becomes unbearable, not only does Blacula's teeth grow pointy and longer, also his sideburns and eyebrows grow to enormous proportions! And, as to be expected, the scenes in the nightclub perfectly capture the ambiance of the early 70's, with groovy music, flamboyant clothes and sympathetic black guys who just join your drinking table for no specific reason. "Blacula" is worth seeing for its occasionally humorous dialogs and vivid portrayal of the 70's, but you certainly shouldn't expect a nail-biting horror gem.
