Plot Summary:
An anthropologist stabbed with an ancient ceremonial dagger becomes cursed with immortality and an insatiable thirst for blood, initiating his new wife into his dark world.
Director: Bill Gunn
Producer: Chiz Schultz
Screenplay: Bill Gunn
Starring:
Duane Jones as Dr. Hess Green
Marlene Clark as Ganja Meda
Bill Gunn as George Meda
Sam Waymon as Rev. Luther Williams
Leonard Jackson as Archie
Music: Sam Waymon
Cinematography: James E. Hinton
Editing: Victor Kanefsky
Director: Bill Gunn
Producer: Chiz Schultz
Screenplay: Bill Gunn
Starring:
Duane Jones as Dr. Hess Green
Marlene Clark as Ganja Meda
Bill Gunn as George Meda
Sam Waymon as Rev. Luther Williams
Leonard Jackson as Archie
Music: Sam Waymon
Cinematography: James E. Hinton
Editing: Victor Kanefsky
HOT DEAL
*Live prices & availability verified on Amazon
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
A Non-Traditional, Arthouse Vampire Experience
KRASNAYA:
Today is our fourth day, and I ask again, will we see a movie with the vampires we are used to, the ones that scare away with the cross and garlic, who can’t stand the sunlight and definitely don’t have coffee and croissants for breakfast in the morning? Yes, as you already understood in the 1973 movie "Ganja & Hess" by directors Bill Gunn and Lawrence Jordan, vampires are not traditional again. From the first minutes, I generally had the feeling that we were going to watch a documentary. The picture and the narration were painfully reminiscent of all this. Then events began to develop, very slowly, I tell you. As a result, the directors came up with a very sophisticated art-house movie, filled with strange dialogues, religiosity and symbolism understandable only to them.
Today is our fourth day, and I ask again, will we see a movie with the vampires we are used to, the ones that scare away with the cross and garlic, who can’t stand the sunlight and definitely don’t have coffee and croissants for breakfast in the morning? Yes, as you already understood in the 1973 movie "Ganja & Hess" by directors Bill Gunn and Lawrence Jordan, vampires are not traditional again. From the first minutes, I generally had the feeling that we were going to watch a documentary. The picture and the narration were painfully reminiscent of all this. Then events began to develop, very slowly, I tell you. As a result, the directors came up with a very sophisticated art-house movie, filled with strange dialogues, religiosity and symbolism understandable only to them.
FREDDY:
Hiya Krasnaya! Daywalkers again. These "vampires" are becoming a little unoriginal, no? Are we going to get the real thang tomorrow, with our last movie for our "Old Vampire Week"? "Ganja and Hess" is a weird movie with a terrible pace and bad storytelling. I was making faces and childish noises during the never ending sex scenes with close-ups of people's backs and the contrasting church singing scenes. I was bored to death.
Hiya Krasnaya! Daywalkers again. These "vampires" are becoming a little unoriginal, no? Are we going to get the real thang tomorrow, with our last movie for our "Old Vampire Week"? "Ganja and Hess" is a weird movie with a terrible pace and bad storytelling. I was making faces and childish noises during the never ending sex scenes with close-ups of people's backs and the contrasting church singing scenes. I was bored to death.
Wooden Acting and a Pacing That Drags
KRASNAYA:
I didn't like the acting, Duan Jones and Marlene Clark were wooden and didn't evoke any feelings in me, although wait, they did - I was desperately bored, and every time this African tribal song started, I wanted to tease our black cat Begemot, and that was much more interesting. And I was also annoyed by the intermittent sound that reminded me of the sound of a hair clipper. What for? If it meant something, I didn't understand.
I didn't like the acting, Duan Jones and Marlene Clark were wooden and didn't evoke any feelings in me, although wait, they did - I was desperately bored, and every time this African tribal song started, I wanted to tease our black cat Begemot, and that was much more interesting. And I was also annoyed by the intermittent sound that reminded me of the sound of a hair clipper. What for? If it meant something, I didn't understand.
FREDDY:
At the beginning, I was captivated by the exotic atmosphere of a vampire blaxploitation movie and the acting of director/actor Bill Gunn. The guy was very natural and that gave that bizarre documentary vibe you mentioned earlier. His philosophical monologue at the beginning was very interesting. I also became mesmerized with the big African women marching to the ritualistic tribal music that we end up listening to repeatedly throughout the movie. After these initial scenes, there was nothing left to grab my attention.
If I ever watch this movie again I will make sure I have a little ganja first.
At the beginning, I was captivated by the exotic atmosphere of a vampire blaxploitation movie and the acting of director/actor Bill Gunn. The guy was very natural and that gave that bizarre documentary vibe you mentioned earlier. His philosophical monologue at the beginning was very interesting. I also became mesmerized with the big African women marching to the ritualistic tribal music that we end up listening to repeatedly throughout the movie. After these initial scenes, there was nothing left to grab my attention.
If I ever watch this movie again I will make sure I have a little ganja first.
Great Cinematography Can't Save a Boring Film
KRASNAYA:
Most of all, I liked the periodically appearing shots of beautiful cinematography - like you say Mabel King as an African tribal woman is great and memorable. The emerging works of art ("Trinity" by Andrey Rublev pleased me) and the African blues were also pleasant.
I have no desire to watch this film again. Me and Freddy do not recommend it.
Most of all, I liked the periodically appearing shots of beautiful cinematography - like you say Mabel King as an African tribal woman is great and memorable. The emerging works of art ("Trinity" by Andrey Rublev pleased me) and the African blues were also pleasant.
I have no desire to watch this film again. Me and Freddy do not recommend it.
Krasnaya's Score
22/100
Freddy's Score
20/100
FINAL SCORE
Comments
Post a Comment