Ganja & Hess

A landmark in the history of African-American cinema, Ganja & Hess suffered a tortured fate. Briefly released in New York City in 1973, it was originally intended to be a "blaxploitation" horror thriller, but actor-director Bill Gunn wound up creating something much more complex and artistically expressive: a vampire film starring Duane Jones (the hero of Night of the Living Dead) that never mentions the word "vampire," addressing interwoven themes of addiction, passion, class distinction, faith, and the struggles of blacks in a dominant white society as it follows the evolving relationship between Hess Green (Jones), an anthropologist who winds up becoming a vampire, and a woman named Ganja (Marlene Clark). Unfolding on a sensual level, the film is equal parts dream, nightmare, and existential odyssey. After its initial failed release, Ganja & Hess was drastically re-edited and eventually bowed on video under no fewer than seven different titles. Fortunately, a single print of Gunn's original version survived at New York's Museum of Modern Art, its reputation rising through revival screenings until it achieved cult status as a "lost" milestone of its decade. Kino's DVD and Blu-ray release—presenting Gunn's original cut—features extras including audio commentary by surviving cast and crew, the interview-based documentary “The Blood of the Thing,” the original screenplay, and an insightful essay. While Ganja & Hess is certainly not for all tastes, there's no denying that it will be appreciated by cinephiles. Recommended. (J. Shannon)