By Jasmine Kelly
Greetings, ghouls, and goblins, I mean everyone. (Hehe) If you cannot tell, I love Halloween. What I love more than Halloween is Black people. I will share a couple of my favorite Black horror movies and why you should watch them.
Tales from the Hood (1995)
Man, oh man, where do I start? Directed by Rusty Cundief and Spike Lee, this was my first introduction to Black Horror movies. As a child who had no business watching this movie, I remember feeling many emotions while watching. I can recall laughing, feeling concerned, scared, and even sad as I watched. The movie is shot vignette style and covers different issues. The subjects remain Black-centered, though. The film covers everything from domestic violence to the issue of white supremacy. The film even contains some familiar faces. The sequel, Tales from the Hood 2 (2018), is also excellent and covers various issues. A must watch for sure.
Candyman (1992)
Candyman is hands down my favorite Black horror movie. What is more interesting is that it is not a Black movie perse, but it is Black. You know what I mean? It is a cult classic amongst Black people because it is scared and still scares the crap out of us even as adults. The movie is about a female graduate student who is a white woman, studying urban legends. She focuses her research efforts on the Cabrini Green housing projects, where she learns about the story of “Candyman.” Candyman was the son of a slave, who became an artist. Candyman fell in love with a white and was set on fire by a lynch mob hired by her father. Sounds like a lot, right? The wild part is, is that it is not even half of the movie. I love this movie because it’s intersectional. Candyman covers issues such as gentrification, racism, and even infidelity. There are sequels to Candyman. To start the anthology, start with the 1992 version. The most recent version directed by Nia DaCosta was supposed to release September 2020 but was delayed until 2021. I am definitely waiting to see it.
Get Out (2017)
Bruh! This was my movie! Directed by Jordan Peele, this movie was definitely for the culture! The movie stars Daniel Kaluuya (who I find absolutely sexy), Lakeith Stanfield, and Lil Rel Howery. Get Out was cool because it was intersectional and touched on some very old Black stereotypes by white people. I can recall watching it in the movie theatres and Black people being on one accord as we said “mmhm” in unison at certain parts in the film. Get out of the sunken place and watch this movie.
Beloved (1998)
Baby…. This film is based on Toni Morrison’s novel of the same name. If you know about Toni Morrison, you know her works do an excellent job making the supernatural apart of everyday life. This movie is just downright scary to me. It is a psychological thriller that stars Oprah Winfrey, Thandie Newton, and Danny Glover. This movie touches on slavery and exorcisms.
Bad Hair (2020)
When I say that, I am excited about this movie?! I am excited! Directed by Lena Waithe, this film is different because it is a comedy-horror film. What is even cooler is that this film has a retro feel. It takes place in the late 80s. The movie centers on a young Black woman who changes her hair to fit the “look” of the entertainment industry. Unbeknownst to her, the hair takes on a mind of its own. This movie features an all-star line-up and set to release on Hulu on October 23, 2020.
Jasmine Kelly is a contributing writer for the Pedestal Project, LLC. Jasmine is a higher education professional who believes in the powers of Black Twitter. You can follow her on Instagram @chicomydusty.
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