Skip to main content

Ganja & Hess (1973)


Ganja & Hess is a 1973 experimental horror film written and directed by Bill Gunn and starring Marlene Clark and Duane Jones. It is one of only two films in which the lead role was played by Duane Jones, best known for starring in the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead (though he had bit parts in other movies). The film was screened at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival. The film was remade by Spike Lee in 2014 as Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. The script is credited to both Lee and Gunn. It has been described as "a remake — at times scene for scene and shot for shot — of Ganja and Hess.

After being stabbed with an ancient, germ-infested knife, a doctor's assistant finds himself with an insatiable desire for blood.

Freddy and Krasnaya Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

K: 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.

F: 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.

MABEL KING GIF
Mabel King - Queen of Myrthia
K: 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.

F: 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.

GANJA AND HESS MOVIE GIF
She ended up dealing with her husband's death pretty well.
K: 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.

NAKED AFRICAN GUY RUNNING GIF
This is how the movie ends. 👀
Freddy's Score: 20/100
Krasnaya's Score: 22/100

FINAL SCORE

AUDIO COMMENTARY

Our blog is update everyday at 21:00 (WEST)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Princess and the Goblin (1991)

Plot Summary: Princess Irene lives a peaceful life in her castle, but her kingdom is threatened by goblins living underground who plot to overthrow the realm. With the help of a brave young miner named Curdie and her magical great-great-grandmother, Irene must stop the goblins' plan and save her kingdom. Together, they embark on a whimsical adventure full of bravery, magic, and self-discovery. Director: József Gémes Producer: PannóniaFilm and Welsh Television Screenplay: Based on the novel by George MacDonald Starring: Claire Bloom as Great-Great-Grandmother Joss Ackland as King Papa Sally Ann Marsh as Princess Irene Peter Murray as Curdie Roy Kinnear as Goblin King Mollie Sugden as Goblin Queen   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Nostalgic Dive: Revisiting some 90s Kids' Cult Classic Today was family movie night, and I decided to reach dee...

The Beauty and Beast (1991)

Plot Summary: Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast's exterior to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. A magical love story unfolds, filled with adventure, self-discovery, and courage. Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise Producers: Don Hahn Screenplay: Linda Woolverton, based on the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont Starring: Paige O'Hara as Belle Robby Benson as Beast Richard White as Gaston Jerry Orbach as Lumière David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts Jesse Corti as LeFou   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Family Face-Off: Beauty & Beast vs. Princess & Goblin We continue our weekend movie marathon at home with...

Porco Rosso (1992)

Plot Summary: In 1930s Italy, Porco Rosso, a suave, pig-headed seaplane pilot and bounty hunter, takes on sky pirates, rivals, and personal demons while soaring through breathtaking Mediterranean skies. Director: Hayao Miyazaki Producer: Toshio Suzuki Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki, based on his manga *Hikōtei Jidai* Starring: Shūichirō Moriyama as Porco Rosso (Japanese) Michael Keaton as Porco Rosso (English) Tokiko Kato as Madame Gina (Japanese) Susan Egan as Madame Gina (English) Akemi Okamura as Fio Piccolo (Japanese) Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Fio Piccolo (English) Akio Ōtsuka as Donald Curtis (Japanese) Cary Elwes as Donald Curtis (English)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Miyazaki and Me: A Love-Hate Relationship Today we travel to Japan (as we often do here at Cine It) with the youngest cinema lover in the house—my 6-year-...

In & Out (1997)

Plot Summary: Howard Brackett, a beloved English teacher in a small Midwestern town, finds his life turned upside down when a former student-turned-Hollywood star publicly "outs" him during an Academy Awards acceptance speech. With his wedding just days away, Howard must confront the unexpected revelation, leading to a comedic journey of self-discovery, societal expectations, and acceptance. Director: Frank Oz Producer: Scott Rudin Screenplay: Paul Rudnick Starring: Kevin Kline as Howard Brackett Joan Cusack as Emily Montgomery Tom Selleck as Peter Malloy Matt Dillon as Cameron Drake Debbie Reynolds as Berniece Brackett Wilford Brimley as Frank Brackett   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Frank Oz Comedy Inspired by Real-Life Events We’re back exploring Frank Oz’s filmography, and today’s feature is In & Out, a 90s comedy with a uniqu...

Moana (2016)

Moana is a 2016 American computer-animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, co-directed by Chris Williams and Don Hall, and produced by Osnat Shurer, with a screenplay written by Jared Bush, and a story by Musker, Clements, Williams, Hall, Pamela Ribon, and the writing team of Aaron and Jordan Kandell. The film introduces Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and also features the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, and Alan Tudyk. The film features original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina, and an orchestral score also composed by Mancina. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film) In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right. source: https://www.imdb...

Violation (2020)

Violation is a 2020 Canadian drama horror film directed and written by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli. It is the feature film debut of the two directors, who have collaborated on several short films displayed at film festivals worldwide. The film stars Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Anna Maguire, Jesse LaVercombe, Obi Abili, Jasmin Geljo, and Cynthia Ashperger. The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its US premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on February 1, 2021 in the Midnight section. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violation_(film) A troubled woman on the edge of divorce returns home to her younger sister after years apart. But when her sister and brother-in-law betray her trust, she embarks on a vicious crusade of revenge. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12801814/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** F: Well, shit. If there are movies that I would like to unwatch, this is one of those. I felt violated...