J.D.'s Revenge

A docile law student (Glynn Turman) is possessed by a 1940s mobster (David McKnight) in mid-1970s New Orleans. The mobster seeks revenge upon the people who killed him and his sister.

There probably are not a lot of blaxploitation-horror-crime films out there. You might get horror-blaxploitation ("Blacula" and "Blackenstein") and you get a lot of blaxploitation-crime, but this is just about the only film that comes to mind mixing all three. So, well done, Arthur Marks.

Marks, for those who do not know, grew up in the world of film. His father worked in Hollywood, and as such, Arthur did the same from the time he could walk. Among many other things, he can be credited with bringing "Perry Mason" to television. For our purposes, though, he must also be credited as a pioneer of blaxploitation. His "Detroit 9000" (1973) was a hit and has been championed by Tarantino, and of course there is "Friday Foster" (1975) starring Pam Grier.

The genre path was continued with this film, and not long after with "Monkey Hustle". First-time writer Jaison Starkes started at a second-rate film school and became friends with George Folsey, who sort of operated a mini-school out of his house. Along with Starkes, Eric Roth was a member of Folsey's circle, and after writing B-movie scripts for twenty years, finally broke into the big time with "Forrest Gump" (1994).

Starkes connected with AIP through Sidney Poitier of all people, and pitched them "Revenge", originally called "The Killing Floor" (a better title). Glynn Turman had just done "Cooley High" for AIP, and Sam Arkoff was impressed enough to hand him another starring role. Arthur Marks was in the middle of a three-picture contract with Arkoff, so it was only natural he would be offered the director's chair.

How George Folsey comes in is sort of a surprise. He already knew Starkes, but actually came in through Marks. Folsey started his editing career with Bernard Schwartz's "Hammer" (1972) and John Landis' "Shlock" (1973). In fact, today he is most associated with Landis, having produced no fewer than 11 films with him. But Folsey also did "Bucktown" (1975), which was produced by Schwartz and directed by Marks, so the transition can clearly be seen there. Folsey did not know his friend Starkes wrote "Revenge" until he received the script while cutting.

AIP had disagreements with both Marks and Folsey; Arkoff wanted exploitation while Marks wanted something more sophisticated. Folsey cut the picture and then AIP made adjustments to eliminate nuance. Ultimately, Starkes believes that 85% of his initial vision is in the final product which is actually uncommonly good.

The Arrow Video release has an incredible, in-depth 45-minute documentary. Whether you like the film or not, it covers the careers and stories of the names attached. There is also an 18-minute standalone audio interview with David McKnight. Trailers for other Arthur Marks films are included, as well as radio spots. Typically an audio commentary would be nice, but the documentary more than covers anything you might want to know.

In 1942 New Orleans gangster J.D. Walker (David McKnight) is shot to death by Elija Bliss (Lou Gossett). It is believed that he killed his wife (he didn't). Cut to 1976. Mild mannered young law student Ike (Glynn Turman) is possessed by the spirit of J.D. He immediately becomes cruel and vicious and treating his beautiful girl friend Christella (Joan Pringle) like dirt. Then he realizes his ex rival Elija is still alive as a preacher and J.D. sets out to get his revenge.

I've wanted to see this since it came out in 1976. I was 14 then and a newspaper ad showed a drawing of a gravestone and a pretty young woman lying dead in front of it with a look of horror on her face (needless to say nothing like that appears in the film). But the film only played one week and quickly disappeared--but I've never forgotten that drawing. I'm glad I finally got the chance to see it. It's not a great film but it's an interesting psychological horror film more than a blood and guts one. There's only one bloody attack scene and a shot of a dead animal being cut open (which was repeated at least 8 times).

This concentrates more on Ike being possessed and trying to fight back. It's a hard role but Turman pulls it off. The only part where he goes too far is at the end when J.D. takes complete control and Turman REALLY overdoes it. It's also kind of fun seeing Gossett (REALLY chewing the scenery) as a preacher. His speeches at church are energetic (to say the least) and a highlight. The only thing that bothers me here is the disgusting misogynistic attitude. There's a truly sick scene where Turman viciously tries to rape Pringle. The only other female roles are TWO cheating wives who eagerly jump into bed with other men and Bliss's daughter who seduces Ike (J.D.) almost immediately. Also Ike has a friend who talks about women like they should be beaten up and controlled. This attitude permeates the film and makes it a chore sometimes to watch. Still this is a somewhat interesting reincarnation movie. I give it a 7.

Accomplished, but unspectacular blaxploitation horror with a tremendously ripe lead performance by Glynn Turman in presenting two very different (from placid to extreme) personalities. He plays a genuinely high flying and collected law student Isaac that during a hypnosis session experiences shocking visions and begins to undergo a personality change of a brutally hot-headed and jive-talking 1940's street hustler J.D. Walker. Through flashbacks that erupted in Isacc's mind we learn that J.D was wrongly accused of murder and then killed. Now he's seeking revenge beyond the grave and he's using Isaac to do so.

Director Arthur Macks doesn't generate anything particularly frightening with the flipped-out supernatural current, but works well with the gritty and murky air to cement tough groundwork. There is a ruthlessly razor-sharp vibe throughout, even though the make-up is cheaply done, it's Turman's tour-de-force performance that sells it. Despite a well-rounded story, there are moments in the script that seem to linger and succumb to repetitiveness with a conclusion that feels all too convenient. Robert Prince's unhinged music amusingly experiments with psychedelic sounds from foreboding electronic stings to funky cues. The rest of the performances are efficiently fair with Louis Gossett Jr. and Joan Pringle.

J.D.'s Revenge (1976)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

This blaxploitation film starts off in the 1940s as a man is shot dead by some mobsters. Fast-forward to the current times and law student Isaac (Glynn Turman) is out with his girlfriend and friends when he is hypnotized. It doesn't take long for something to snap in Isaac and before he knows it he's got the spirit of the dead man in him and he goes seeking revenge.

J.D.'s REVENGE is a pretty good blaxploitation movie that not only pay homage to the various gangster classics but it also has a touch of the Jekyll and Hyde storyline. I'm a little surprised that this film isn't better known among fans of the genre because the picture is quite sleazy at times and features all the terrific dialogue and situations that you'd expect.

I think some of the best moments happen towards the end and especially when the Isaac character begins to change and become more and more like a gangster rather than his "good" self. Turman does a very good job in the role as he's basically playing two different parts and he's quite believable in both. I especially liked him in the role of the bad guy and I thought the actor did a marvelous job at switching back and forth between the characters as well as the multiple personalities of the bad guy. You also get some nice supporting performances including Louis Gossett, Jr. as a Reverend with a few secrets of his own.

The horror elements of the picture are good for what they are but I think a lot of people will be shocked to see how sleazy the movie is. There's all sorts of nudity as well as a couple graphic sex scenes that help make the picture stand out. You've also got that "jive" or hip style of talking throughout and this too adds to the entertainment. J.D.'S REVENGE might not be the most original movie out there but there are a lot of good elements that make it worth watching.

A classy film for those who like personality-disorder flicks. A Law Student (Glynn Turman) participates in a hypnotist show, only to have the soul of a deceased gangster enter his body!

J.D.'s Revenge happens to be one of my personal favorites because you can enjoy it on a campy level as well as a partial horror flick. Also has an early performance by Lou Gosset Jr.

Watch for J.D.'s famous one-liners!