Blacula is a 1972 American blaxploitation horror film directed by William Crain. It stars William Marshall in the title role about an 18th-century African prince named Mamuwalde, who is turned into a vampire (and later locked in a coffin) by Count Dracula in the Count’s castle in Transylvania in the year 1780 after Dracula refused to help Mamuwalde suppress the slave trade.

Blacula also stars: Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Gordon Pinsent, Charles Macaulay and Thalmus Rasulala. It was the first film to receive an award for Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards.

Marshall was the first Black man to portray a vampire on film. And, for the first time a Black director Crain was at the helm.

You cannot not like this film; it is truly fun. And, like all films of the time period there are some problematic moments. But, overall it’s still better than most of the exploration films of that time. Prince Mamuwalde’s (Blacula) backstory of trying to fight the slave trade and him being called a Black avenger gives the film its cool factor. There are a few actual genuine horror moments in the film, Ketty Lester’s scene running down that hallway is an awesome moment. Blacula also helped usher in the horror phase of blaxploitation film. For better or worse. Mamuwalde is the Shaft of vampires. Shut your mouth.