Black Samson

In BLACK SAMSON, Rockne Tarkington plays the benevolent, neighborhood protector of the title. From his local topless bar, complete with his mascot / pet lion, Samson watches over his friends, carrying his signature walking stick. All is well, until the mob decides to move in on Sam's territory.

Going against the more moderate approach of the big boss, the psychopathic Johnny Nappa (William Smith) decides that far more violence is necessary. This leads to murder, and an unforgettable final showdown.

Mr. Tarkington is the heart and soul of this movie. He plays Samson as just the sort of man we would want to call upon in times of trouble. Mr. Smith portrays Nappo as a vile, irredeemable man, set on having what he wants at all costs. We can see early on that these two are going to face off.

One of the better films of its subgenre...

If you are into unintentional comedy, classic one liners or a ridiculous plot then this movie is for you. This along with Dolomite should be in the Blackploitation hall of fame!! Rockne Tarkington's performance is electric as the staff wielding, lion owning barowner Samson. He truly is the man. Add to to this William Smith's over the top Johnny Napa, Samson's hysterical hoochie mama and one badass mortician and you have the makings of an epic battle. The stakes?? Control of the ghetto!!. The tension builds until a final conflict replete with matresses being thrown off a roof, ultimately settles the score! A true period piece if there ever was one. Thumbs up! Way up!!

The groovy threads, jive talk and funky music are all present but Tarkington just doesn't have the presence of a Jim Brown or Fred Williamson. Dependable bad-guy William Smith performs with his usual gusto though. The supporting cast of 70s exploitation actresses like Carol Speed and Connie Strickland will add enjoyment for fans of 70s drive-in/grindhouse cinema.

There's not much to separate this from most blaxploitation era movies apart from the lion and the club. The soundtrack is average, the plot is rote, and the action poorly done. It's got a message that it wears on its sleeve and there's never any sense of doubt or moment of not knowing what's gonna happen. An average movie at best. Also, the lion really needed to do something at some point other than just be set dressing. If there ever was a movie that called for a mauling it was this one.

Regardless of your views on the nature of blaxploitation films themselves, the average viewer expects silly one-liners, comically inept and invariably racist antagonists, and a breezy plot which allows for the genre tropes to star. Black Samson offers virtually none of these, and instead presents you with ceaseless cruelty.

The film starts out looking like another fun-to-watch-with-friends romp, but quickly takes an ever-dark and ever-sadistic turn and never once looks back. Gone are the cartoonish racist villains; instead, we have believable, human monsters that exude hate (kudos to the actors, but unfortunately in the wrong genre for such savagery). Gone is the lighthearted pacing and tempo; instead, we have a story that plays more like a Greek tragedy. Where you'd normally find comic vehicles, instead scenes play out as if from a snuff film.

Black Samson is not a bad film by any means; if anything, it's one of the most sincere efforts of cinema normally attached to the blaxploitation era. However, those looking to goof on a film might find themselves sorely disappointed in how human and bruised the characters are presented.