J.D.'s Revenge (1976)

So much average

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

****SPOILERS**** Gunned down at a New Orleans meat market in 1942 by Theotis Bliss, Fred Pinkard, after he had murdered his sister Betty Jo, Alice Jubert, who was carrying his child J.D Walker, David McKnight, waited in the world beyond to come back and get his revenge not just against Theotis but his born again brother Elija, Louis Gossett. Jr, who was married to her. Now some thirty years later J.D got his chance by, through an hypnosis session , occupying the body & soul of collage law student Issas "Ike" Hendrix, Glynn Truman, to avenge his sister's murder that Theotis framed him for.This turned out to be a life changing event for Isaac who turned from a sweet harmless and kindly collage boy into an cold blooded and unfeeling psychopath when ever J.D took over his body. The first to notice this change in Isaac was his live-in girlfriend Christella, Joan Pringle, whom he unmercifully brutalized, to enforce his macho and lady killer image, to the point that she left him. Tracking down the Bliss brothers J.D plans to do them both in by getting them to go the the scene of the crime, the slaughterhouse, where Betty Jo was murdered by Theotis with the innocent, in Betty Jo's death, Elija now a well respected reverend slated to witness the gory event.****SPOILERS**** With J.D pulling all the strings he got both Elija and Theotis to duke it out with each other in revealing that it was Theotis who actually knocked up his brother's wife Betty Jo behind his back. Added to the mix is Elija or better yet Theotis' illegitimate daughter Roberta, also played by Alice Jubert, who tried to prevent the two brothers from killing each other only to accidentally shoot and kill,in a struggle for the gun, her dad Theotis in the confusion. While this was happening J.D was whooping it up and doing some kind of crazy war dance in the background keeping himself out of harms way. J.D in the end did get his long sought revenge and as for the man he used to do it Isaac Hendrix he was later exonerated of all of J.D's crimes since it was proved that he wasn't in his right mind when he committed them.

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.

New Orleans, 1942: Vicious, abusive hoodlum J.D. Walker (a sneering, splendidly nasty turn by David McNight) slices a woman's throat with a switchblade, then gets promptly shot dead for committing the brutal, heinous misdeed. Cut to New Orleans in 1976: Sweet, likable, struggling law student Ike (frequent second banana co-star actor Glynn Turman, giving a fine, engaging performance in a rare substantial lead part) is possessed by J.D.'s malevolent, vindictive spirit, which transforms Ike from a harmless, mild-mannered college kid into a vile, lethal, womanizing, straight razor-toting cad who exacts a terrible revenge upon all those individuals responsible for J.D.'s untimely demise.One of the best, most frightening and effective entries in the short-lived 70's blaxploitation horror craze (prime examples of this nifty sub-genre include both "Blacula" movies, "Abby," and "Sugar Hill"), "J.D.'s Revenge" emphasizes mood over violence, with seasoned B-picture veteran Arthur ("Bonnie's Kids," "Bucktown") Marks' typically sturdy, stylish, self-assured direction and Jaison Starkes' craftily plotted script deftly milking the creepy, mysterious, unsettling Southern Gothic-style ambiance for all its worth. Said scary gloom-doom tone, further reinforced by a vivid evocation of that uniquely lazy, luscious and exotic Big Easy atmosphere and Marks' ever dark sense of humor, insinuates itself upon the viewer in a low-key, yet forceful manner. The always great Louis Gossett, Jr. offers a dazzling, dynamic portrayal of Elijah Bliss, a flashy, grand-standing, two-faced preacherman with something to hide. The lovely Joan Pringle is strong and sympathetic as Ike's concerned girlfriend Christella. Harry May's gorgeous, polished cinematography gives the film a sumptuous professional sheen which totally bellies the low budget. The eerie, groovy, understated score by Robert Prince (who also co-wrote the forgettable ending credits theme song "I'll Never Let You Go") is likewise on the money fine. Reportedly one of Samuel Jackson's longtime favorite movies, this baby rates as a real nice one all around. And Turman does wonders in a touch, demanding part; ironically, Turman was ultimately dissatisfied with how the film turned out.

In their excellent book "The Golden Turkey Awards" the Medved brothers note that the good news was that Hollywood discovered the market for movies made for black audiences, the bad news was that most were crude, artless-and vulgar, like this one. It starts OK with an interesting premise and some interesting shots, such as the young law student seeing the late J.D.'s face in the mirror of his cab, but it soon degenerates into another cheap sex and sadism Garde Z exploitation movie. 3 of the 4 sex scenes are rapes, in the last half of the movie the dialogue (?) consists of the 2 best known obscenities. I was embarrassed to watch this one, and I watched all by myself late at night-with the curtains drawn! Got the tape from a co-worker with whom I had been discussing the Golden Turkies and bad movies. Lent him a tape of "Plan 9 from Outer Space", he said he howled over that, he got the best of that deal.