Ganja & Hess (1973) | May 24

Flirting with the conventions of blaxploitation and horror, Bill Gunn’s revolutionary independent film Ganja & Hess is a highly stylized and utterly original treatise on sex, religion, and African American identity. Duane Jones stars as anthropologist Hess Green, who is stabbed with an ancient ceremonial dagger by his unstable assistant, bestowing upon him the blessing of immortality… and the curse of an unquenchable thirst for blood. When the assistant’s beautiful and outspoken wife Ganja comes searching for her missing husband, she and Hess form an unexpected partnership. Together, they explore just how much power blood holds. – Kino Lorber

Director: Bill Gunn

Cast: Marlene Clark, Duane Jones, Bill Gunn, Sam Waymon, Leonard Jackson. Candece Tarpley, Richard Harrow

Country: United States

Distributor: Kino Lorber

Rating: R

Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Platform: Shudder, Kanopy

Special Programming: Midnight Movies, Classic Cinema

Where to Watch

Author: Josh Hornbeck

Josh is the founder of Cinema Cocktail, and he is a writer and director, podcaster and critic, and communications and marketing professional living and working in the greater Seattle area.