Description

Al Adamson brings his far-out school of cult moviemaking to the Dracula legend in this gruesome blend of sorcery, witchcraft, and vampirism, featuring screen favorites John Carradine and Donald Barry. Prominent author John Wainwright claims to be the reincarnation of infamous mind controller Svengali; using black magic, he stages the ritual sacrifice of his latest Trilby and ignites a confrontation with the strange Dr. Gregorio--actually the long undead Count Dracula himself! Leaving drained corpses and female vampire slaves in his wake, Gregorio embarks on an endless, evil journey in this startling shocker! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Blaxploitation Cheese from Al Adamson!
Here's a slice of '70s Blaxpoitation cheese that manages to pack a sizeable wallop for its miniscule budget. Tough African-American detective Kicks Carter (Timothy Brown) is out to break up a pair of bottom-feeder crooks and stop a guns-for-drugs trade organized by a black mobster improbably named Guido. Along the way there's plenty of clumsily choreographed (and often poorly-lit) fight scenes and shoot-outs, a smattering of sex and nudity (like when Kicks makes sweet love to his TV reporter girlfriend Tanya Boyd), a fair amount of sleaze (like when a woman with a gambling problem is gang-raped by four sweaty redneck card sharps; the fact that this woman resembles a young version of "That '70s Show"'s Debra Jo Rupp only adds to the scene's nastiness) and stilted dialog so awkwardly peppered with jive talk it's obvious the script was written by white people. Still, schlock director Al Adamson is in peak form with this one, keeping the action moving and making sure to hit all the right buttons to please his audience--even including a little bit of lesbian action, again involving our hapless gambling addict. The cast also includes Adamson regulars Russ Tamblyn (who plays a bug-eyed, low-rent mobster named Ziggy) and aging blond bombshell (and Adamson's wife) Regina Carrol. The movie runs out of steam by the final ten minutes, but all in all, "Black Heat" is pretty hot. Just don't be fooled by the updated cover art on the DVD: "Black Heat" is a '70s movie through and through, from Timothy Brown's huge afro down to his crotch-molding, (...) tight jeans.

"KICKIN'!"
Black Heat is not as hard to find as one might think. I was in Hollywood video browsing the action section and it jumped off the bottom shelf and kicked me in the shin. It hurt like a muther!

So bad it's good!
Yet another pick from classic 1970s blaxploitation. It's definitely not Dolemite, but it had enough action to keep me occupied for all 96 minutes. This one's hard to find in regular video stores. Amazon is about the only place I know that even carries this film. A great addition! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Adamson's Blaxploitation Whammy
No one watches an Al Adamson movie with high expectations, but the director has been known to turn out some entertaining movies despite modest talents and miniscule budgets. With "Black Voodoo," things get off to a promising start as we join a religious cult out in the Southern California desert (I've only recently started watching Adamson's work, but it seems like ALL his movies start in the SoCal desert). At the guidance of their leader, Reanhaur (toothy Bill Roy), cult members are trying to bring a dead member back to life by chanting "Rise, William, rise!" Then Reanhaur suffers a heart attack. Rather than chant "Rise, Reanhauer, rise," an ambulance is called. But the old kook dies on the operating table. His body may be dead, but Reanhauer's spirit is very much alive. After Sherri (Jill Jacobson)--a nurse at the hospital where the cult leader was taken--is left alone by her doctor/boyfriend, an animated green blob emerges through Sherri's bedroom door and has its way with her. Perhaps the worst special effect ever for its time, this scene in which Sherri gets possessed is the movie's laugh-out-loud high point.

Things go downhill from there. Possessed by the Reanhaur's spirit, Sherri goes on a killing spree that would make Andy Milligan proud. Her doctor/boyfriend (whiny-voiced Geoffrey Land) thinks she's having an affair, but a blinded football player (Prentiss Moulden) who was raised by--get this--a voodoo priestess knows what Sherri's *real* problem is. He knows how to stop Sherri, if Nurse Tara (Marilyn Joi), who's got the hots for him, is willing to do some grave robbing for the good of mankind.

Supposedly this movie was originally conceived as a ripoff of Roger Corman's sexploitation pic "The Student Nurses," but after producer Sam Sherman saw "Carrie" he decided to turn this into a horror movie. To make room for the spooky stuff, the sex scenes were cut, which explains why all the nurses in "Black Voodoo" are particularly libidinous ("Beth, you want to put Ed's stethoscope back in his pants?"), yet seldom act on their spoken desires. It probably explains why the busty Jacobson got the lead: She was expected to open her blouse, not her mouth. Unfortunately with the new horror story, she has to summon up some emotions but is unable to find any. Land, who delivers all his lines as if making an aspirin commercial, isn't much better. And it's obvious scenes were made with minimal takes as there are several instances were actors stumble over their lines. The pace is leaden through much of the movie (sex scenes were cut to make room for Reanhaur's three-minute ambulance ride?), and there is one scene that's so dark the viewer has no clue what's going on. With this type movie I expect bad acting, silly dialog and ridiculous narratives, but I can't forgive its being boring. And to think this was actually a hit with drive-in audiences!

Furthermore, "Black Voodoo" isn't really blaxploitation. Oh, there are some African American characters (and Xenon Entertainment is sure to use all their pictures on the box cover), but they're supporting players. No, this was originally titled "Nurse Sherri," and just retitled to get a few extra dollars from black audiences. The movie has been retitled again, as "The Possession of Nurse Sherri," in its DVD incarnation and is perhaps the better version to see. Not only does it feature commentary by Sam Sherman, but the disc also includes an unreleased cut of the movie featuring the excised sex scenes. Maybe that cut restores the movie's entertainment value as well.

dont buy this DVD
i was led astray thinking that the show might be something worth seeing,unfortunately not. I really regret buying this show as the story line sucks and there was only one nude scene. What a joke. Dont buy this and u have been warned.

Sam Sherman commentary makes this a Great! DVD!
Great movie! Really has stood the test of time! I originally saw this movie under the name "Black Voodoo". But this is the version you want! This DVD has all the bells and whistles! A very creative TV spot, kind of a strange one, but very different. The Sam Sherman commentary really adds to it, you are let in on the process of the making of the film. It is a honest commentary, from a visionary, inspiring, great man. I can listen to Sherman talk all day! If you have seen this movie before, get this version for the commentary, if you haven't seen it, get it for actors Marilyn Joi and JC Wells. A truly inspired film! Sam Sherman is a person I would like to meet and chat with in my lifetime. Great all around DVD, worth every penny...

Possession of Nurse Sherri, The... (1977) d: Adamson, Al
Taking ideas from the Roger Corman produced; Stephanie Rothman film Student Nurses (1970), and cashing in on the success of Brian De Palma's Carrie (1976) legendary exploitation filmmakers Al Adamson / Sam Sherman evolved these genres to once again please the drive-in crowd. The plot consists of a Guru cult leader who takes ill, and is taken to the hospital for an unwanted operation. Before dying under the knife, his soul manages to possess... You guessed it!... Nurse Sherri. Of course, the spirit uses the Nurse [Jill Jacobsen] to wipe out the medical personal who failed to save him. Trying hard to give the audience both sex, and thrills the evil Nurse begins to kill off many of the other characters. "...Along the way she gets to speak in a man's voice Exoricist (1973) style and whack people with cleavers and pitchforks Andy Milligan-style, while treating the viewer to some welcome T&A as well..." The movie moves along quickly, and uses it's budget well. Considering the time... Adamson, and Sherman films where very racially aware, and featured many Afro-Americans in them. The subplot in Nurse Sherri, consisting of a black football player who turns up with a voodoo amulet doesn't have much to do with the film, however it played well to a new film going audience. '...From a doomed medical operation - to - a returned evil soul" The Possession of Nurse Sherri is a great film which I'm more than pleased is available on DVD. An excellent job on this disc from shock-o-rama.com, my only complaint is lack of any original artwork. Producer Sam Sherman explains the production of the film in-depth on the commentary track, sadly Adamson doesn't appear. In August of 1995 the police found his body buried under four tons of cement, with his skull broken by a heavy object. Fred Fulford, a handyman who had been doing some remodelling was arrested and sentenced to 25 years and life in prison. ... Read more