J. D.'s Revenge

Last updated
J. D.'s Revenge
J.D.'s Revenge.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Arthur Marks
Written byJaison Starkes
Produced byArthur Marks
Starring
CinematographyHarry J. May
Edited by George Folsey Jr.
Music by Robert Prince
Distributed by
Release dates
August 25, 1976 (New York City, New York)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.4 million [1]

J. D.'s Revenge is a blaxploitation horror film released in 1976. It starred Glynn Turman and Lou Gossett. The main character becomes an unwilling host for the restless spirit of J.D. Walker, a hustler killed 30 years earlier when he was wrongfully accused of killing his sister.

Contents

Plot

Isaac "Ike" Hendrix is a young law student who is married to Christella and works as a taxi-cab driver in New Orleans. While out on a night of fun with Christella and their friends, he participates in a hypnosis act and becomes an unwilling host for the restless spirit of J.D Walker, a man who is obsessed with wreaking vengeance against Theotis Bliss. J.D. was a hustler who ran numbers during World War II and managed a black-market meat plant. One night at the plant, J.D. witnessed the murder of his sister, Betty Jo, at the hands of Theotis.

Ike finds himself gradually being taken over by the sociopathic J.D., even eventually going so far as to adopt his hair and fashion style, mannerisms, and psychotic tendencies, often hurting Christella in the process. Once fully possessed by Walker, Ike commits havoc all over town before making his way to the church where Theotis' younger brother and Betty Jo's widower, Elijah, works as a preacher. At the church, he also sees Theotis accompany his brother, as well as Roberta, the daughter of Elijah and Betty Jo and J.D.'s niece who is the splitting image of her mother.

J.D. poses as Ike to befriend the Bliss family to be close to them, even seducing Roberta and having sex with his own niece through Ike's body. Meanwhile, Christella has gone to her ex-husband, a cop who is out for Ike's blood, believing him to simply be a psycho hiding behind a false persona—until he mentions to the Chief that Ike claimed his name was J.D. Walker, a man who was not only real, but also had died over 30 years ago.

After several disturbing encounters with Ike, Ike eventually reveals his true identity to Elijah and tells him to tell Theotis to meet him at the meat plant where Betty Jo was killed. Having left the gangster life behind to pursue faith full time, Elijah relays this to his brother and says that this is God's way of justice; he decides to join Theotis to hopefully free Ike from J.D.'s possession.

As J.D. makes his way through the meat plant, he finally remembers the whole truth through flashbacks. Betty Jo had an affair with Theotis, who is the real father of Roberta, but she was constantly dismissive of him. At the meat plant, Theotis was enraged by Betty Jo's derisive chiding of him and her threats to expose Roberta's true paternity, so he impulsively slashed her throat before escaping. J.D. made his way to cradle his sister's body, but Elijah stumbled upon them and mistook J.D. as his wife's killer and killed him.

J.D. confronts Elijah and Theotis at the meat plant, where Roberta had secretly tagged along. J.D. reveals the truth, and Theotis confesses it, stunning his brother and daughter. Theotis attempts to gun down J.D., but Elijah and Roberta struggle with him to stop, with J.D. laughing maniacally at the irony of the struggle. Elijah accidentally discharges the weapon and kills Theotis, prompting him to run away as Roberta mourns over his body and the police arrive. With his vengeance achieved, J.D. appears to leave Ike's body.

As Ike and Roberta are brought in by the police, Elijah has a breakdown in his church over his brother's death. He decides to go to the precinct and lies that Theotis accidentally shot himself, while defending Ike's actions as an act of possession by J.D., who is gone. Ike is allowed to go free, although he is nervous that J.D. could return in the future. Ike rejoins Christella and his friends waiting for him outside.

Cast

Reception

Film critic Roger Ebert gave it two stars. He said that it is flawed because "not every movie of possession where things have to pause while the spirit has things explained to it. The movie also takes longer than usual for the possessed man's friends to figure out something is not quite right with him". Ebert also added "the movie work, to the degree that it does, are the performances by Turman, Lou Gossett and Joan Pringle. Turman, in particular, has fun transforming himself from the mild-mannered law student to the zoot-suited 1940s two-bit gangster". [2]

DVD

J.D.'s Revenge was released to DVD by MGM Home Video on April 1, 2003, as a Region 1 widescreen DVD.

J.D.'s Revenge was rated R18 in New Zealand for violence and horror.

Related Research Articles

<i>Heathers</i> 1989 American comedy film by Michael Lehmann

Heathers is a 1988 American teen black comedy film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann, in both of their respective film debuts. The film stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Penelope Milford. Its plot portrays four teenage girls—three of whom are named Heather—in a clique at an Ohio high school, one of whose lives is disrupted by the arrival of a misanthrope intent on murdering the popular students and staging their deaths as suicides.

<i>An Officer and a Gentleman</i> 1982 US romantic drama film by Taylor Hackford

An Officer and a Gentleman is a 1982 American romantic drama film directed by Taylor Hackford from a screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart, and starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and Louis Gossett Jr. It tells the story of Zack Mayo (Gere), a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate who is beginning his training at Aviation Officer Candidate School. While Zack meets his first true girlfriend during his training, a young "townie" named Paula (Winger), he also comes into conflict with the hard-driving Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (Gossett) training his class.

<i>Hulk</i> (film) 2003 superhero film directed by Ang Lee

Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Produced by Universal Pictures in association with Marvel Enterprises, Valhalla Motion Pictures, and Good Machine, and distributed by Universal, it was directed by Ang Lee and written by James Schamus, Michael France, and John Turman, from a story conceived by Schamus. The film stars Eric Bana as Bruce Banner and Hulk, alongside Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte. The film explores Bruce Banner's origins. After a lab accident involving gamma radiation, he transforms into a giant green-skinned humanoid with superhuman strength known as the Hulk whenever stressed or emotionally provoked. The United States military pursues him, and he clashes with his biological father, who has dark plans for his son.

<i>Men of Honor</i> 2000 film by George Tillman Jr.

Men of Honor is a 2000 American drama film directed by George Tillman Jr. and starring Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. The film is inspired by the true story of Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, the first African American master diver in the United States Navy.

<i>Porkys Revenge!</i> 1985 film by James Komack

Porky's Revenge! is a 1985 sex comedy film and the third and final film of the original Porky's film series. It was directed by James Komack.

<i>Green Street</i> (film) 2005 British-American crime drama film

Green Street is a 2005 crime drama film about football hooliganism in the United Kingdom. The film was directed by Lexi Alexander and stars Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam.

<i>Skin Game</i> 1971 film by Gordon Douglas, Paul Bogart

Skin Game is a 1971 American independent comedy western directed by Paul Bogart and Gordon Douglas, and starring James Garner and Lou Gossett. The supporting cast features Susan Clark, Ed Asner, Andrew Duggan, Parley Baer and Royal Dano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glynn Turman</span> American actor, writer, director (born 1947)

Glynn Russell Turman is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. First coming to attention as a child actor in the original 1959 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun, Turman is known for his roles as Lew Miles on the prime-time soap opera Peyton Place (1968–1969), high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom A Different World (1988–1993), and Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series The Wire. He received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role on the HBO drama series In Treatment.

<i>Wyatt Earp</i> (film) 1994 biographical western drama film

Wyatt Earp is a 1994 American epic biographical Western drama film directed and produced by Lawrence Kasdan, and co-written by Kasdan and Dan Gordon. The film covers the lawman of the same name's life, from an Iowa farmboy, to a feared marshal, to the feud in Tombstone, Arizona that led to the O.K. Corral gunfight. Starring Kevin Costner in the title role, it features an ensemble supporting cast that includes Gene Hackman, Mark Harmon, Michael Madsen, Bill Pullman, Dennis Quaid, Isabella Rossellini, Tom Sizemore, JoBeth Williams, Mare Winningham and Jim Caviezel in one of his earliest roles.

<i>Motel Hell</i> 1980 US comedy horror film by Kevin Connor

Motel Hell is a 1980 American comedy horror film directed by Kevin Connor and starring Rory Calhoun, Nancy Parsons, and Nina Axelrod. The plot follows farmer, butcher, motel manager, and meat entrepreneur Vincent Smith, who traps travelers and harvests them for his human sausages.

<i>Hour of the Gun</i> 1967 film by John Sturges

Hour of the Gun is a 1967 Western film depicting Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday during their 1881 battles against Ike Clanton and his brothers in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and the gunfight's aftermath in and around Tombstone, Arizona, starring James Garner as Earp, Jason Robards as Holliday, and Robert Ryan as Clanton. The film was directed by John Sturges.

<i>Mothers Day</i> (1980 film) 1980 American rape and revenge slasher film by Charles Kaufman

Mother's Day is a 1980 American rape and revenge slasher film directed, co-written and produced by Charles Kaufman, brother of Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman. The plot focuses on three women on a camping excursion who fall victim to two deranged, murderous young men and their unhinged mother. The film contains elements of the satire, thriller and slasher genres.

<i>Light It Up</i> (film) 1999 film directed by Craig Bolotin

Light It Up is a 1999 film starring an ensemble cast that consists of R&B singer/actor Usher Raymond, Forest Whitaker, Rosario Dawson, and Vanessa L. Williams. The film was written and directed by Craig Bolotin, and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and his wife Tracy Edmonds.

Joan Pringle is an American actress known for her role as vice principal Sybil Buchanan in the CBS drama series, The White Shadow (1978–1981), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She later starred in the soap opera, Generations from 1989 to 1991 and had the recurring roles in One on One and Girlfriends.

<i>Fast Break</i> (film) 1979 film by Jack Smight

Fast Break is a 1979 American sports comedy film directed by Jack Smight and produced by Stephen Friedman. The film stars Gabe Kaplan as David Greene, Harold Sylvester as D.C. and Bernard King as Hustler. The film was Kaplan's big-screen debut, although he had made earlier appearances on television sitcoms and movies, and was one of the first film appearances of Laurence Fishburne.

<i>10 to Midnight</i> 1983 film

10 to Midnight is a 1983 American neo noir-thriller-horror film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay originally written by William Roberts. The film stars Charles Bronson in the lead role with a supporting cast that includes Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens, Gene Davis, Geoffrey Lewis, and Wilford Brimley. 10 to Midnight was released by City Films, a subsidiary of Cannon Films, to American cinemas on March 11, 1983.

<i>The River Niger</i> (film) 1976 film by Krishna Shah

The River Niger is a 1976 film adaptation of the 1972 Joseph A. Walker play of the same title. The film was directed by Krishna Shah, and starred James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, and Louis Gossett Jr. The film had a limited commercial release in 1976 and has rarely been seen in later years. The soundtrack is by War, including the theme song "River Niger".

<i>Pawn Shop Chronicles</i> 2013 American film

Pawn Shop Chronicles, also known as Hustlers, is a 2013 American crime comedy film directed by Wayne Kramer and written by Adam Minarovich. The film stars an ensemble cast, led by Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Vincent D'Onofrio, Norman Reedus, and Chi McBride. This was Walker's final film to be released during his lifetime, as he died four months after its release.

<i>Sextuplets</i> (film) 2019 American film

Sextuplets is a 2019 American comedy film directed by Michael Tiddes from a screenplay by Mike Glock, Rick Alvarez and Marlon Wayans. It stars Marlon Wayans and Bresha Webb, and follows a man who sets out to find his long-lost siblings after discovering he is one of sextuplets his mother had.

<i>Outlaw Johnny Black</i> 2023 film by Michael Jai White

Outlaw Johnny Black is a 2023 American western comedy film directed and written by Michael Jai White. It is a spiritual sequel to Black Dynamite that once again stars White. It was released theatrically on September 15, 2023, and received mixed reviews from film critics.

References

  1. Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 301. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  2. Fragoso, Sam (1976-07-05). "J.D.'s Revenge Movie Review & Film Summary (1976)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2014-02-18.