Today marks 25 years since Vampire In Brooklyn was released in theaters, the film stars Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett and was directed by Horror Icon Wes Craven. During the time of it's release Eddie was just waddling along having fallen from the height of his career in the 80's and not yet experiencing the resurgence of his career that he would just a year later. If you've been reading my blogs lately you can tell that I am a huge Vampire movie fan, and this film is another one I must watch during spooky season.
The movie is a horror/comedy and at the time of it's release reception was mixed and it only grossed $19 million at the box office. As the years have passed, the film has come to be beloved and while watching it recently I wondered...where the hell is our sequel?
One of my favorite parts about the film (besides the hilarious John Witherspoon) was the idea of Black Vampires and their backstory. Eddie Murphys character Maximillian was a smooth ass dude from an unknown Carribean island where it's suggested they existed in abundance at one time and were very wealthy. Max's mission was to get Angela Bassetts character Rita a Dhampir to fall in love with him to sustain their race with time ticking.
Maxmillian displayed traditional vampire powers such as enhanced strength, flying capability, beast like ferocity, and abundance of thirst while never growing old. He also had additional powers such as metamorphsis and telepathic powers, leading me to wonder does one have to be a vampire for a certain amount of time to gain those additional powers? He also had a ghoul named Julius by his side, who was slowly deteriorating. What was the end game with the ghoul?
At the end of the film the door was left open for a sequel, when Julius becomes a vampire after putting on Max's ring. Which begs the question does one become a vampire in the traditional sense or is a piece of vampire created jewerly all thats needed to become a vampire and have the powers of a vampire?
A sequel could have answered all these burning questions that I have. It could go one of two ways following the ring and a new unsuspecting victim putting it on, learning the ways of being a vampire in modern day Brooklyn. Or following a new vampire going to the Carribean island and learning about their culture. Touch on where Rita and Justice have been all these years later. Is Julius still a vampire or has he been staked for being a damn fool? How does voodoo play a role in defeating these vampires? Why do these batch of vampires dress so immaculate?
Throw in some comedy, gore and possibly a love story and it would be another B-movie horror classic. We also need more Black horror vampires and vampire hunters. As the streaming wars grow, these studios have to dig in the vaults to revisit old tales. Besides all that Damnit we deserve A Vampire In Brooklyn 2!
“I don’t give a damn if Marvin Gaye ‘Gonna be there, you Won’t!”-
Pops
That line sums up the basis of 1990’s House Party
which has become a classic in the 30 years since it’s release. Released March 9th, 1990 and starring tarring rap duo
Kid N’ Play, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, and Robin Harris
the movie was a film the culture didn’t know it needed until it was released.
High schooler Kid gets into a scuffle with school bullies (Full Force members
B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, and Paul George) during lunch That causes Kid’s dad
(Robin Harris), to ground him and keep him from the biggest party of the year
thrown by his best friend Play.
What ensues is a night of dodging bullies and the cops,
getting the girl, and having fun. In the early 90’s most Black films highlighted
inner-city youth and issues, and the aggression that a lot of Black youths
harbor. House Party on the other hand showcased an often under depicted
demographic middle-class Black youths who just want to get laid and have fun.
House Party carries so many attributes of the culture
that still resonate today. Kid N’ Play and all their friends care about how
they dress and look. They just want to rap and dance and look good doing it. Throw in sneaking out while you’re grounded, worried parents who
are also pissed. Dealing with overzealous cops, high school bullies that look
too damn old, and playing the game to get the girl. The soundtrack is a time
capsule of late 80’s hip hop and r&b, and the now legendary New Jack Swing
sound. Everyone knows and loves the classic dance off in the middle of the film between
Kid N’ Play and Tisha Campbell and A.J. Johnson.
We can’t forget the quotable
lines that make the movie enjoyable to watch time after time. “I smell Pussy”, “follow
the drip”, “What the hell is a Public Enema?”, “I would put my shoe so far up
your ass, you’ll be shitting sneaker for a month.” "I'll fight a girl", "I know you will, I seen your ass get beat by a couple." And so many other lines you
can still quote today, and those in the know will instantly get it.
House Party also is one of those movies that has a
lot of stars or actors with consistent work, that you did not realize. Martin
Lawrence is a comedy legend who starred in the classic sitcom Martin a
couple of years later, and inspired a generation of comedians. Stand up legends
Robin Harris and John Witherspoon displayed why their two of the funniest
comedians ever. Tisha Campbell has built a nice career displaying her comedy
chops between Martin and My Wife and Kids. A.J. Johnson has built a fitness empire for
herself. Everyones favorite scumbag Clifton Powell has an appearance. Funk
legend George Clinton steals his scene as a DJ at a party. Daryl Mitchell, Anthony
Johnson, Kelly Jo Minter, and Joe Torry all faces you may know more than the
name, all have small appearances in the film.
House Party is a movie that those under 18 who watch
it enjoy it because of some of the adult content, and looking forward to being in
those at times dangerous but relatively harmless situations. Adults on the
other hand can watch and relate to the carefree teenage days when you just
needed to get home before your parents realized you were gone.
House Party has left a legacy between two direct sequels starring Kid N’ Play, and a sequel starring music group immature that is related to the original strictly by title. There was also a sequel released in 2013 in which Kid N' Play make a cameo appearance. There are plans to reboot the original with Lebron James producing it, which goes to show how influential the film is years later.
It has made legends out of Kid N’ Play and let several Black youths know dance moves can get you the ladies. House Party is a simple film with a simple mission, enjoy life and have fun doing it which is why we still love it 30 years later.
