The Funky Q Review is a section of Geek Soul Brother where I review Movies and Television shows that I happened to have missed when they were originally featured, be it in the theaters or on TV. I’m talkin’ Netflix, Hulu, DVD’s, Cable… anything that lets me catch up to films and TV shows that slipped through my fingers. Even Youtube originals might make it here. If it’s on my radar, then it’s in my Funky Q. Most of these reviews will actually be from my Netflix because that’s my goto, but I will tell you where the material is available anyway.
What would you do if you were a black woman in Louisiana, and your boyfriend just got killed by the local mob? Hire some Zombies to take the mob out of course. That’s what Diana ‘Sugar’ Hill does in this 1974 Blaxploitation and Zombie horror mashup SUGAR HILL (or ZOMBIES OF SUGAR HILL).
Visually, this was your classic Blaxploitation flick. Big Afros and Bell Bottom clothes were a must for the genre. But you didn’t get many horror based black movies in the seventies, especially zombies. Most fans of the blaxploitation will enjoy this film. The production value was low, but not the worst. The acting was over the top, especially Semidi, the king of the dead. He was the life of the party with his ongoing disguises. What was interesting too about the film was that they didn’t have a whole lot of gun play. Usually you would see the female protagonist rocking two guns and bad guys shooting back. The bad guys were shooting, but bullets don’t really work too well against walking dead flesh.
I didn’t see this growing up. But that’s why I love these streaming sites that give you suggestions to watch. SUGAR HILL or ZOMBIES OF SUGAR HILL is available on Netflix, and maybe other services. What other blaxploitation horror did you like?
