BOO! THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BLACK HORROR

 

More than 200 titles from the silent era to the present are detailed in this definitive book on African American horror films and television series. Some featured titles are The Devil’s Daughter, Night of the Living Dead, J.D.’s Revenge, The People Under The Stairs, April Fools, and Lovecraft Country. For each entry, the following information is included: title, release date, MPAA rating, main cast, director(s), and a brief plot synopsis. An introduction to the history of Blacks in horror movies is also provided. This guide is a must-have resource for anyone interested in discovering more about the relationship between the horror genre and the African American experience.

 

This is the first entry in Black Cinema Connection’s Essential Guides to Black film and television book series.

 

Imperfect High

Release Date:  9/18/21; Lifetime
Genre:  Drama
Rating:   TV-14
Director:  Siobhan Devine
Studio(s):  Sepia Films, Just Singer Entertainment, Lifetime Television
Cast Nia Sioux (Hanna Brooks), Sherri Shepherd (Deborah), Ali Skovbye (Rose).

Story:  Hanna Brooks (Sioux) is the new girl in town who is looking to find her place and fit in at Lakewood High School, which was rocked a couple of years earlier by the shocking drug overdose of a popular student. Hanna suffers from an anxiety disorder and the move to a new school is especially stressful for her. While trying to fit in with the “it” crowd, she finds herself pulled between two boys – a bad boy with a heart of gold, and an alluring, popular rich kid who is not as straight of an arrow as he seems. Her relationship with them sweeps her into a dangerous situation that her mother Deborah (Shepherd) must fight to save her from.  Source:  justjaredjr.com.  Photo Sources:  IMDB.

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FObE2v10-4&rel=0

Colin In Black & White

Release Date:  10/29/21 – Miniseries; Netflix
Genre:  Drama/biography
Rating:  NR
Directors:  Ava DuVernay, Sheldon Candis, Robert Townsend, Angel Kristi Williams, Kenny Leon.
Studio(s):  ARRAY Filmworks, Netflix

Cast:  Colin Kaepernick (Narrator), Jaden Michael (Young Colin Kaepernick), Amarr (Eddie), Mace Coronel (Jake), Howard M. Lockie (Coach Parker), Chris O’Neal (Dwayne), Klarke Pipkin (Crystal).

Story:  The six-episode scripted drama, created by Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick, chronicles Kaepernick’s coming-of-age tackling the obstacles of race, class and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family in Central California. Kaepernick narrates the tale as high school Colin (Jaden Michael) faces adversity on his way to becoming an All-Pro quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and later a cultural icon and activist.  Nick Offerman and Mary-Louise Parker play Colin’s parents Rick and Teresa, while Kaepernick’s voice guides viewers through historical and contemporary contextual moments.  The series is executive produced by DuVernay, Kaepernick and Michael Starrbury, the latter of whom wrote the series.  Source:  Deadline.

Trailer:

Needle In A Timestack


Release Date:
 
10/15/21, In Theaters – Limited & VOD; 10/19/21, DVD
Genre:  Sci-Fi
Rating:  R
Director:  John Ridley
Studio(s):  BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Ember20, Montana North Media, Lionsgate
Cast:  Leslie Odom, Jr., Cynthia Erivo, Orlando Bloom, Freida Pinto

Story:  Love is in the form of a circle, what lines would you cross to be with your soulmate? in this gripping, near-future love story directed by Oscar winner John Ridley, Nick and Janine live in marital bliss, until Janine’s ex-husband warps time to try to tear them apart using Nick’s college girlfriend.  As Nick’s memories and reality disappear, he must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in order to hold onto — or let go of — everything he loves. Can love endure in a future where time is fluid, and all of life may be just an illusion?

The film was adapted by Ridley from a short story by Robert Silverberg, an author who has been inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame and has won the Hugo and Nebula (awards dedicated to sci-fi literary work) multiple times.  Needle in a Timestack was announced back in 2017, and according to Silverberg, went through a long post-production phase. It is set to premiere on digital, VOD, and in limited theaters on October 15. Blu-ray and DVD editions hit shelves just a few days later, on October 19. Sources:  fangirlish.com; collider.com.

Twice Bitten

Release Date:  9/7/21; BET/BET Her
Genre:  Thriller
Director:  Patricia Cuffie-Jones
Studio(s):  Nasser Entertainment Group, Studio City Pictures, BET Networks/Viacom

Cast:  LisaRaye McCoy, Kevin A. Walton, Shanica Knowles, Dorian Gregory and Ledisi.

Story:  As summer comes to an end, BET has a new slate of primetime suspense thrillers premiering on BET and BET Her every Tuesday across five weeks starting Tuesday, August 31st.  The film list includes three BET Original Movies; Always & Forever, Twice Bitten and the highly anticipated Karen.  Plus the linear debut of two BET+ Original Movies; Influence and Sacrifice.  Each film features tantalizing plot twists and gripping storylines that will bring audiences to the edge of their seats!

LisaRaye McCoy stars in Twice Bitten, a whodunit about a sexy conman targeting his next mark, for his latest swindle. His routine scam hits a snag when suspicion mounts and the scheme spirals into desperation, betrayal, and murder.  Sources:  BET Pressroom; Variety; urbanbridgez. com.  Photo Source:  urbanbridgez.com.

Run The World

Release Date:  5/16/21 – Series Premiere; Starz
Genre:  Comedy/Drama
Rating:  NR
Director(s):  Jenée LaMarque, Justin Tipping, Nastaran Dibai, Millicent Shelton.
Studio(s):  Lionsgate Television, Starz!
Cast:  Amber Stevens West, Andrea Bordeaux, Bresha Webb, Corbin Reid.

Story:  The Harlem-set series follows a group of 30-something Black women – Whitney (Amber Stevens West), Ella (Andrea Bordeaux), Renee (Bresha Webb) and Sondi (Corbin Reid) as they navigate the ups and downs of life together while striving to take the world by storm. Source:  Starz.com; People.com.  Photo Source:  Vitalthrills.com.

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yriAaWlKnJw&rel=0