HORROR NOIRE (Shudder Channel Documentary - 2019)
An excellent and long overdue examination of the black experience and talent representation in horror films, led by Robin R. Means Coleman, PhD and based on her same-titled book (on my Wish List) as well as notable black actors, directors and academics.
Whilst it's not expected to be exhaustive in its 83 minute running time, it's well paced and covers all the most important historical touch points such as the woefully racist depictions as far back as Griffiths' BIRTH OF A NATION, the appallingly demeaning 1930s use of actors like Manton Moreland (covered in detail in all his roles across my blog), the ground-breaking casting of Dwayne Jones by George Romero in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (purely based on his talent and not a forced affirmative action policy) through the problematic, I would argue schizophrenic, Blaxploitation era experiment, right up to the zeitgeist-nailing brilliance of Jordan Peele's GET OUT.
Someone on Amazon criticised this documentary for not featuring white interviewees. Perhaps that says more about the reason why this needed to be made. They certainly have hundreds elsewhere to choose from if such an absense offends them...?
Highly recommended.
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