Shudder has brought us a new documentary the profiles the history of Black Horror. Clocking in at 1 hour and 23 minutes, which I do feel it could have been longer. One thing the documentary did for me was teach me. There are many movies from the “Blacksploitation” period I missed. But it also highlighted the growth of Blacks in horror, from their first roles, being the “token” and becoming the star or final girls.
Rather than spoil the documentary, I will tell you, it is worth the price of Shudder to see this doc. For some of you, it may change the way you look at some of these movies and characters.
Horror Noire is based off a book, Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present.. There are a few horror legends interviewed in the doc, Tony Todd, Ken Foree, Keith David, Rachel True, Richard Lawson and Miguel Nunez JR. A couple of Elm Street Alums, Ken Sagoes and Kelly Jo Minter. But for me, seeing the directors may have been the best, Willaim Crain(Blacula), Rusty Cundieff(Tales from the Hood), Ernest R. Dickerson(Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) and Jordan Peele(Get Out, Us)
I say, check it out. It is surely worth your time. It is well made and has a lot of greats talking about the struggle of being black in horror and to now, when things are kind of turning around.
Get Shudder and watch Horror Noire, it is available now!
