Blu-Ray Review: Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus

By Less Lee Moore

In 1972, African-American writer, director, and actor Bill Gunn was given free reign to make a film that would capitalize on the success of Blacula. The result was the bizarre yet beautiful Ganja & Hess, his rumination on addiction, religion, and African-American culture, which would thrill audiences at Cannes, only to be savaged by critics upon its eventual release. The producers re-edited and repackaged Ganja & Hess as Black Vampire and the film was mostly forgotten.

But Bill Gunn never forgot. In 1973 he wrote a scathing letter to the NY Times, which said, among other things, “Your newspapers and critics must realize that they are controlling black theater and film creativity with white criticism.” Sadly, Gunn died in 1989, after making only one more film, 1980’s Personal Problems.

Clearly, Spike Lee has not forgotten, either. His first crowdfunded film, Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus is a reimagining of Gunn’s singular, mesmerizing film. Fans of Ganja & Hess may have flinched when they heard of this project, but Lee’s version is not only a beautiful tribute to Bill Gunn’s original film, it’s also a tribute to black artists.

One thing Gunn’s film did which has both entranced and alienated many critics was his steadfast refusal to adhere to the narrative standards of a fictional film. Much of the dialogue is spoken off screen and characters are not framed in the ways we are used to seeing in mainstream cinema; Gunn’s aesthetic choices even strain against the bounds of independent, art-house cinema. Lee and DP Daniel Patterson filmed Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus in a more straightforward style, but kept much of the idiosyncrasies of Ganja & Hess in terms of dialogue and the way it is delivered onscreen. The result feels somewhat akin to a televised theatrical production at first, but once you let the rhythm of the film envelop you, it reveals its own kind of splendor.

Another coup of Lee’s film is the casting. Duane Jones played Dr. Hess Green in Ganja & Hess, while Marlene Clark played his lover, Ganja. Both were impeccable in their roles. In Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus, Steven Tyrone Williams portrays Hess, while Zaraah Abrahams, is the tempestuous yet tender Ganja. Although one can never forget the commanding presence of both Jones and Clark, both Williams and Abrahams are spellbinding and bring something entirely fresh to the film. Their chemistry is delightful and their sex scenes do not feel overly polished; they are visceral and erotic.

A lot has changed in the last 40 years and Lee has wisely revised the screenplay with updated nods to modern African-American life such as the distribution of black wealth, single mothers, and more chillingly, the AIDS epidemic amongst black folks. Neither Ganja & Hess nor Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus are horror per se. The original evokes a feeling of dread similar to that of Abel Ferrara’s 1995 vampire film The Addiction, but far more subtle and profound. Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus is more light-hearted, but no less compelling.

It would be hard to surpass or even replicate the eerie African chants that symbolize the blood cravings in Ganja & Hess, but Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus takes a different path entirely. Bruce Hornsby created the original score for the film, which might seem like an odd choice, but it works beautifully. It never directs the action onscreen; at some points it serves as an ironic counterpoint.

Lee also used music from many unsigned artists in the film, including hip-hop, which was only just beginning in 1973. All of the music in the film is outstanding; my only complaint would be that at times the sound mix threatens to overshadow the dialogue. Lee also provides photos of each unsigned artist/band in the credits, which is something that more filmmakers should do.

Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus pays loving homage to Ganja & Hess but it’s also a wonderful film in its own right. If you are a fan of Bill Gunn’s original movie, African-American cinema, or thought-provoking films, Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus is one you definitely need to see.

Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment Canada on May 26.