Shudder's acclaimed horror documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror is a must-watch in my opinion, as it is an insightful and fascinating deep dive into an area of the genre that is often sadly overlooked and underappreciated. And now you can own the yourself, as RLJE Films is releasing a Blu-ray and DVD of the documentary, which will be available February 2nd (PRE-ORDER HERE!)
Here's the official synopsis:
Written by adjunct professor of film Ashlee Blackwell and Danielle Burrows and directed by Xavier Burgin (Giants), HORROR NOIRE features Tony Todd (Candyman), Rachel True (The Craft), Ernest Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, “The Walking Dead”), Rusty Cundieff (Tales from the Hood, “Chappelle’s Show”), Tina Mabry (Mississippi Damned, “Queen of the South”), Paula Jai Parker (Hustle & Flow), Tananarive Due (“The Twilight Zone”) and Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, professor and author of the book Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present.
Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, HORROR NOIRE traces the untold history of Black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the horror genre. Adapting Robin Means Coleman’s seminal book, HORROR NOIRE presents the living and the dead, using new and archival interviews from scholars and creators, from the voices who survived the genre’s past trends to those shaping its future.
Now, there's not much more to say, other than you should watch this film asap! Whether on Shudder right now – or waiting until February 2nd to own a physical copy – either way, it's well worth your time! Hell, if you already saw it, buy the Blu-ray anyway!