J.D.'s Revenge (1976)

Director:

Arthur Marks

Writer:

Jaison Starkes (writer)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

He came back from the dead to possess a man's soul, make love to his woman, and get the Vengeance he craved!

Plot:

A docile black law student is possessed by a 1940's mobster in mid-70's New Orleans. The mobster seeks...

Plot Keywords:

1940s | Revenge | Sister | Hat | New Orleans Louisiana

Cast

Glynn Turman	...	Isaac / 'Ike'
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Rev. Elija Bliss (as Lou Gossett)
Joan Pringle	...	Christella
Carl W. Crudup	...	Tony (as Carl Crudup)
James Watkins	...	Carl (as James Louis Watkins)
Fred Pinkard	...	Theotis Bliss
Jo Anne Meredith	...	Sara Divine
Alice Jubert	...	Roberta Bliss / Betty Jo
David McKnight	...	J.D. Walker
Stephanie Faulkner	...	Phyllis
Fuddle Bagley	...	Enoch Land
Earl Billings	...	Capt. Turner
Paul Galloway	...	Garage Man
Barbara Tasker	...	Sheryl
Tom Alden	...	Higgins

Also Known As:

The Reincarnation of J.D. Walker (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Rod Stewart (#7.1)" (1981)

Very nice combo of blaxploitation and horror.

"J.D.'s Revenge" is an Exorcist variation, set in New Orleans, in which a nice guy cab driver and law student (affable Glynn Turman) participates in a hypnotism session, which somehow allows the spirit of a deceased gangster, J.D. Walker (David McKnight, oozing oily menace), who desires revenge on those who killed him.

It's a reasonably engrossing and interesting picture, worth catching for the performance of Turman, who manages to convey two different personalities. It's also quite a showcase for Louis Gossett, Jr., as a flamboyant preacher implicated in the plot. I've never seen him quite so lively, and he even cries at the end!

Joan Pringle is quite cute and appealing as the befuddled love interest, and in a small dual role, Alice Jubert is quite alluring. Carl Crudup, James Louis Watkins, and Fred Pinkard co-star; veteran of blaxploitation and many other films, Bob Minor, also has a small role as an angry husband.

Directed quite capably by Arthur Marks, also in the directors' chair for other blaxploitation favorites like "Detroit 9000", "Bucktown", and "Friday Foster", this is another worthy addition to his resume, as he keeps the film intriguing and moving along nicely. He also deserves mention for the visual treatment (a deep red tint) of the flashbacks. The music is also fun - sometimes ominous, sometimes funky, sometimes even both!

This is an entertaining little film that can be shown along with the "Blacula" films for a heck of a fun evening. Recommended.

7/10