Quick Review Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

2019 | R | 1Hr 23 Min | Documentary | Shudder

Director: Xavier Burgin

Writers: Ashlee Blackwell, Danielle Burrows

Stars: Meosha Bean, Ashlee Blackwell, Robin R. Means Coleman

Synopsis:

Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, HORROR NOIRE traces the untold history of Black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the horror genre. Adapting Robin Means Coleman’s seminal book, HORROR NOIRE presents the living and the dead, using new and archival interviews from scholars and creators; the voices who survived the genre’s past trends, to those shaping its future.

Based on the book by the same name from author Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, this Shudder exclusive feature acts as a celebration as well as a criticism of how black filmmakers have been portrayed since the creation of cinema. Digging deep into the ugly history of racism expressed cinematically starting with the hatred of The Birth of a Nation to the casual cliche trope of the black actor dying first in the slasher Horror. Niore Director Xavier Burgin aims to confront the many cinematic injustices while at the same time highlighting and celebrating the films that faced discrimination. 

We all love Blackula hearing Crain’s journey to the director’s chair will revolutionize the manner in which you forever see William Marshall’s bloodsucker. Horror Noire offers the viewer an opportunity to reach into cinema’s past and gives you a reason (and there is no time like the present) to finally watch classics like Night of the Living Dead or Tales from the Hood along with a slew of others you may have missed. 

 This is a fun and fresh look at the history of Horror movies that comes from a fresh voice. It's sad tho this is only on Shudder as it truly deserves a wider audience!

4 out of 5