A woman seeks revenge on those who killed her boyfriend in the supernatural exploitation film Sugar Hill. New to Blu-ray from Kino Cult.
The Film
Sugar Hill has no reason to be a cult oddity even amongst fans of Blaxploitation films. This horror-revenge thriller is a lean, mean, and stylish genre entry from AIP during the ‘70s heyday of the studio’s output.
The story is effectively lean as white gangsters kill a black club owner, Langston (Larry D. Johnson), not counting on any pushback. Least of all from his girlfriend, photographer Sugar (Marki Bey). What these goons did not count on was Sugar’s ties to the supernatural, specifically Voodoo. With the help of Voodoo queen Mama Maitresse (Zara Cully), Sugar summons the long-dead Baron Samedi (Don Pedro Colley) to aid her in her revenge. Using the Zombies, Sugar, and Samedi, exacted revenge on the white men who cut Langston’s life short.
One of the most refreshing aspects of Sugar Hill is how Sugar herself never feels an ounce of regret at the horrible fate these murderers face. There’s a vicious glee to the way that the revenge plays out that feels satisfying. Much of it has to do with the fact that these characters are as vile as vile can be from the get-go. The script by Tim Kelly may be a blunt instrument, but it’s a highly effective and entertaining one. Coupled with the effective lean direction of Paul Maslansky, creates a film that’s a perfect single directorial effort.
The only shame is that Maslansky never got behind the camera as a director of feature films again (he produced the Police Academy films).
The Transfer
The transfer is colorfully vibrant without any defects or artifacting. The image is beautifully representative of the 35mm origins of the film, with a wonderful patina of active grain giving it that specific filmic look that all the best Blu-Ray discs have. Kino Cult continues to provide masterful editions of almost forgotten gems of cultdom.
The Extras
They include the following;
- Audio commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
- Audio commentary by director Paul Maslansky
- Interviews with Actor Don Pedro Colley
- Interviews with Actor Richard Lawson
- Interviews with Actor Charles Robinson
- Interviews with Director Paul Maslansky
- Theatrical Trailer
- Radio Spots
The first of two Audio commentaries is by director Paul Maslansky; the track is moderated by Bill Olsen, and opens with Maslansky discussing AIP and working with Samuel Z. Arkoff, including selling films to him and how that relationship ended up with him directing Sugar Hill. Some of the details include how the success of Easy Rider pushed him back to Hollywood – as well as many American Expatriates working in Europe; how the film came together in the wake of Maslansky coming back to Hollywood; the production shoot on location in Houston during the summer; the reason why Texas was chosen to make the film; a great side tangent anecdote about Cary Grant at the time of making this film; how he worked with the actors on the film during the production; the importance of scheduling with low-budget filmmaking become key and the reasons why; working at AIP and their internal post-production services including the projectionist Jimmy Honoray helped him during his film; a larger discussion of AIP at the time and the various directors that worked for the Company like Coppola, Scorsese, and Demme; working with Don Pedro Colley and the affection Maslansky had for his unique approach; because it was a wide drive-in release they had certain requirements for the completed film; how he met and began his relationship with Arkoff during his time in Europe where Arkoff would do business dealings in Rome and Paris; a larger discussion of the various locations they used in Houston; a larger discussion of how his time as a producer helped inform making this film as a first-time director; a larger discussion of the various actors and crew that made the film and their various contributions and anecdotes from the production; and much more.
The second Audio commentary is by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. The trio opens with their credentials before Berger begins to sing along with the theme song of the film and discusses the Blaxploitation horror film that this is a part of. Some of the other details include why and how Houston was chosen by the production with the help of the Texas Film Commission; how the film feels like it’s a New Orleans gothic horror film not something based in Texas; the experience of seeing this film in theaters – which leads to a discussion of what was a PG rated film at the time in the ‘70s; the unique designs of the zombies in this film; and much more. Berger, Mitchell, and Thompson deliver a track that is both personal and informative to the production. The trio provides both personal asides about their experience with the film and anecdotes from the production.
Interviews with Actors Don Pedro Colley (19:03) – in this all-new interview with Colley opens with the audition process. Colley goes on to discuss his collaboration with director Paul Maslansky; working with Marki Bey, Larry Johnson, Richard Lawson, Charles Robinson, Zara Cully – and the different styles each employed and what they ended up doing after the film; working with producer Samuel Z. Arkoff; the research done for the role; the real life voodoo priest that his character is based on; the way the makeup for his character was created and the reasons why they gave him these scars; and much more.
Interviews with Richard Lawson (14:04) – in this all-new interview with Lawson opens with how he got the role and what he liked about the role. Lawson goes on to discuss his love for director Paul Maslansky; the vibe of the set, and the tone that Maslansky set; his respect and admiration for Charles Robinson – his work on stage and screen at the time, and what a trailblazer he was; his dislike for the term Blaxploitation – how at the time many of these films were written and directed by white people but they did allow for black actors and creatives to work; and much more.
Interviews with Charles Robinson (15:06) – in this all-new interview with the Houston-based Robinson opens with the fact that AIP asked him to cast the film. Robinson goes on to discuss working with Maslansky and how the director eventually cast him in the role that he did; his various experiences meeting and working with the various actors, including a great anecdote about Marki Bey; a truly great anecdote about Robert Quarry; the enigma that was/is Don Pedro Colley – including some great anecdotes; and much more.
Interviews with Paul Maslansky (16:30) – in this all-new interview with Maslansky begins with how he was hired by Samuel Z. Arkoff for his first and only feature film as a director. Maslansky goes on to discuss the delight that was Marki Bey; working with Robert Quarry; giving Charles Robinson his first feature film role; the big character that was Don Pedro Colley – including a great anecdote about filming in the summer of Houston; how they came up with the odd look of the zombies with much humor; and much more.
Theatrical Trailer (1:58)
Radio Spots (1:37) – the two Radio Spots (one 60-second and another 30-second spot) play over various production stills from the film.
The Final Thought
Kino Cult continues to live up to its name, delivering the best and unique in cult cinema. Recommended.