Ganja & Hess

Description

Ganja & Hess — After interacting with an ancient dagger, archaeology doctor Hess Green becomes a vampire. Soon he falls in love with Ganja, the wife of his deceased assistant, and introduces her to his world of immortality and bloodlust.

This is an experimental film that differs greatly from typical horror films of its time and is considered a classic of African-American cinema.
The plot is told non-linearly and uses vampirism as a metaphor for addiction, religion, cultural identity, and assimilation.
Today, of course, this won’t surprise a seasoned viewer — but it’s a perfect addition to any arthouse horror collection.

In 1973, the film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received enthusiastic reviews from critics.

In 2014, Spike Lee directed a remake titled Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.

Ganja & Hess is the second significant — but much less known — film after Night of the Living Dead (1968) in the film career of actor Duane Jones.