Spuzzlightyear An interesting and, dare I say it, better-then-the-original follow-up to Blacula. Where the first was essentially set-up, this is dynamite pay-off. William Marshall and his team of phantom vampires are generally creepy this time (thanks to a director who's been there before) and the story presents an interesting take on the vampire story with Voodoo elements combined. Pam Grier is an expert on the occult, and agrees, with some heavy reservations mind you, to take on Mr. Blacula and tries to rid his little problem with the help of voodoo dolls! If this sounds silly, it probably is, but it's presented quite interestingly and with a lot of style that the cheesiness isn't too obvious. Quite a little surprise.

tavm Having just rewatched Blacula, I've now done the same with Scream Blacula Scream. Once again, William Marshall reprises his character of Prince Mamuwalde who became the feared Blacula. Pam Grier plays Lisa Fortier who becomes the new voodoo priestess after her elderly predecessor dies. The one who thought he should have taken over, Willis Daniels (Richard Lawson), is the one who brings Blacula back to life when he buys a bag of bones from the Ragman (Bernie Hamilton) and performs his own voodoo service. Lynne Moody plays Denny, Willis' girlfriend. Don Mitchell plays Justin Carter, an ex-detective who's with Lisa and who is the one that thinks about the marks on many victims' necks are the work of a vampire which he tells a skeptical Sheriff Harley Dunlap (Michael Conrad). I'll stop there and just say this was almost as effective as Blacula. I did like the way director Bob Kelljan had both the music score and the background music play at the same time at the same volume to provide many chillingly effective scenes. And there was a humorous scene with a couple of pimps (Bob Minor, Al Jones) harassing Mamuwalde that I got a kick out of. So on that note, Scream Blacula Scream gets a recommendation from me. P.S. Many of the supporting cast I cited are probably more well known outside of this movie like Don Mitchell had played Mark Sanger on the TV series "Ironside". Richard Lawson would years later play one of the exorcists whose name is Ryan on Poltergeist. Lynne Moody was the original Jenny Willis on "All in the Family" before Belinda Tolbert replaced her on the spin-off "The Jeffersons". And then there's Michael Conrad who would eventually become Sergeant Phil Esterhaus on "Hill Street Blues" becoming well known for the tagline "Hey, let's be careful out there." And another player, Janee Michelle who played Gloria, is a native of the Seventh Ward of New Orleans which is a two-hour drive from where I now live. Also, she was-in N.O. parlance-a "Creole's Creole".

MartinHafer Sure, Blacula was killed in the last film, but like Dracula, it's hard to keep a good vampire down once and for all. The movie begins with Willis (no relation to Todd Bridges) becoming angry because he thought he'd become the next voodoo high priest. When he is passed over instead, the dude comes up with a brilliant plan--buy the bones of Blacula and bring him back to life using a little 'black magic' in order to exact revenge. Unfortunately, the plan only half works--Blacula comes back but makes this big butt-head his vampire slave--a very silly dressed vampire slave, too, I might add! I must say that the ceremony for reconstituting Blacula was pretty lame as you NEVER get to see the bones become the vampire--the guy leaves the room and minutes later, Blacula comes out to get him. Lame! Everyone in the theater expected a cool transformation scene and got nothing! I guess that's what you get when American-International backs your film! After Blac and his new protégé feast on a couple victims, the Prince of Evil decides to go out on the town and crashes a party where some African treasures are being admired. Since he is a very, very old African man, he is able to identify the items--and impresses the house guests so much that he's a hit at the party. In the process, he meets the lady of his dreams (and many other guys back in the 70s), Pam Grier. But, he gets a bad case of the munchies and he decides to sneak off to feed on Gloria. Soon after this, he walks home from the party and comes upon a couple cheap pimps. After they try to mug him, the Prince of Darkness then drinks one of them dry. Wow---three times in one evening, this cat is insatiable! I can't recall ever seeing Dracula doing that in any one of his films! And, for that matter, I can't recall seeing Dracula suck guys dry. Hmmmm...I guess Blacula isn't worried about what others might think or say behind his back....making him a very, very confident vampire, indeed...or he's bi-.Later, when Gloria miraculously comes back from the dead and tries to kill her, her friend (Grier) is a bit stunned and realizes the powers of evil might just be afoot. But, in a blaze of fury, Blacula comes to save Ms. Grier as well as engage in some small talk. It turns out Blacula needs her help, as with her wondrous voodoo powers, she MIGHT be able to cure him of his wretched curse (the curse of vampirism...not his having to appear in this film!). How can Grier help? What is to become of Blacula? Tune in yourself to see.Okay, I gotta admit that the Blacula films are amazingly silly. But, on the other hand, they are also a lot of fun--and great entertainment. However, I don't often tell people I love these two films (and many other blaxsploitation films)--it gets you funny looks! The acting of William Marshall (Blacula) is very nice--and he has a nice presence about him. As for the rest of the cast, they try their best despite having to say some occasionally silly lines and almost non-existent special effects! Good entertainment....just NOT a candidate for the Criterion Collection!

mrbill-23 I just bought "Scream, Blacula, Scream" from '73 at Wal-Mart for $5.00 dollars. I LIKE IT! I already bought the original Blacula several years ago but, I had never seen the sequel until today. I thought it was done rather well. I fully enjoyed the film. William Marshall is VERY convincing as a scary vampire who is evil as sin. In a way, two films of this nature is enough for William Marshall; no need to drag-it-out and over-stay your welcome. I feel two movies was enough. In considering that the film is that of the early 70s with little special effect abilities, I still say it was done well enough for any horror fan to admire. I am STOKED that I bought this DVD.. Prince Mamuwalde / Count Blacula is kool... He's a strange, scary dude... Cheers....MR.BILL, RaleighNOTE:I do, however, think that the ending scene in the original film was more satisfying than that of the sequel...