Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is a 1976 blaxploitation horror film loosely inspired by the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It is also directed by William Crain, who had also directed the successful Blacula.

When a scientist develops a formula to regenerate dying liver cells, it accidentally turns him into an albino vampire with a taste for killing prostitutes and pimps.

The film stars Bernie Casey, Rosalind Cash and Ji-Tu Cumbuka. Along with Crain, the film was written by Larry LeBron and Lawrence Woolner. The movie was filmed primarily in Los Angeles and at locations such as the Watts Towers.

Along with other blaxploitation films, Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is filled with themes surrounding ideas of race, class and Black Power, yet it is unique in that the film depicts these themes through the genre of horror.

I haven’t seen this film; in fact, I just became aware of its existence recently. Being a fan of the late Bernie Casey and Rosalind Cash I cannot wait to see this film. My prediction for Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is there will be equal parts ludicrous, (which I will love) and some thoroughly visually  horror film elements. Although those elements will surely be dated since it is a 45-year-old film.