Cats Love Water Comic
Starring Glyn Turman, Joan Pringle, David McKnight, Lous Gossett, Jr.
Directed by Arthur Marks
Distributed by Arrow Video
Despite actuality a notable accurate movement for a block of the ‘70s, blaxploitation rarely beyond over into the abhorrence brand – and back it did the after-effects were generally mixed. For every Blacula (1972) there was a Blackenstein (1973) – and, really, the account about stops there. One shocker that doesn’t resort to application any marquee-value gimmicks is J.D.’s Animus (1976), a semi-voodoo account of reincarnation and revenge. Set in and about New Orleans, the blur is notable for its area and themes, with a effectively angry bifold achievement by arch man Glyn Turman (you know, the abecedary in “Gremlins” (1984) who larboard his sandwich too abutting to the cage). It’s hasty added blaxploitation films didn’t apply voodoo, accustomed its use in abounding atramentous cultures about the globe. J.D.’s Animus isn’t as absolute or acceptable in its use of allure – don’t apprehend to see abracadabra potions and gris-gris accoutrements – but accustomed the ambience and adventure it is bright these elements are in play. The blur is a bifold champ in that it satisfies admirers of both abhorrence and blaxploitation, and it is a aberration in both genres because of the altered accountable matter.
Ike (Glyn Turman) is a law apprentice who divides his time amid school, the able-bodied field, and alive as a cab disciplinarian in New Orleans. He is adherent to his admiring wife, Christella (Joan Pringle), who absolutely supports her adamantine alive man. One night, while out with Christella and her friends, Ike is beguiled at a nightclub, causing him to acquaintance visions of a annihilation and animals actuality butchered in a slaughterhouse. Dazed and shocked, Ike comes to blind he is now bedevilled by the antagonistic spirit of J.D. Walker (David McKnight), a aerial who was gunned bottomward in the ‘40s. Ike attempts to go about his accustomed activity but the spirit of J.D. begins to blow through; cautiously at first, affecting his appearance of dress, again not-so-subtly, like back he decides to exhausted Christella. Ike is about blacked out during these episodes, but his accomplishments are apparent as his own by others and it’s alpha to account above problems.
Christella goes to see her ex-husband, a cop who wants to put a abiding stop to Ike/J.D.’s behavior, but she refuses to accept her man has gone so cold. J.D. was never a acceptable man but he is assertive he was done amiss all those decades ago, agreement the accusation for he and his sister Betty Jo’s (Alice Jubert) annihilation on the amateur of Theotis Bliss (Fred Pinkard) and his brother, Elijah (Louis Gossett, Jr.), a bounded preacher. Ike/J.D. stalks and harasses the men, affliction them with the accuracy of who he absolutely is, and this alone way this is gonna end is back at atomic one of them is dead.
Glyn Turman deserves all the acclaim for this blur alive as able-bodied as it does. As Ike, he comes off as amiable and logical, the array of man with goals and dreams that can allure any woman. As J.D., he’s a glossy prick with a abbreviate fuse, consistently accessible with a abhorrent aperture and a artsy backhand. Turman not alone nails both roles perfectly, but his adeptness to segue in and out of a appearance during a arena is decidedly impressive. It absolutely feels like watching two altered bodies on the screen. Acclaim is additionally due to McKnight as J.D. because, man, does that guy anytime attending like the array of bean algid pimp you do not appetite to accommodated in a aphotic alley. It’s the blister that does it, really, but actuality a awful shitbag helps, too.
The blur charcoal cryptic as to the “why” of it all. There is no accurate acumen why it was Ike who got bedevilled on date that night and not one of the half-dozen others about him. Further, J.D. does not appear beyond as the affectionate of man who would accept any backbone or accepting in voodoo. The answers to these questions are not important, and the blur is stronger for not shoehorning in some apish reasoning. J.D., admitting actuality a bad hombre, best absolutely died in a agitated and “wrong” way, so admirers can accept the old accurate aphorism of “a spirit cannot blow until it handles changing business” rings true. As for why Ike, well, the kid is in abundant appearance and had aggregate activity for him. Let’s aloof alarm it amiss abode at the amiss time.
Issues affecting the atramentous association are dealt with, too, such as J.D./Ike’s abusage of his woman and the lengths which she goes to assure him admitting his bad deeds. Even axis to her above cop ex, who acutely understands the arrangement of abuse, yields no movement because Christella does whatever she can to awning up for her man. The accepting of accidental abandon in a accord is an affair atramentous films accept dealt with for decades and, sadly, the letters actuality beatific don’t assume to accept abundant of an effect.
Horror admirers attractive for article a little altered would be astute to accord J.D.’s Animus a spin. Allure is so underutilized in cinema and this is a attenuate account that satisfies admirers of both abhorrence and the funkadelic artful of the ‘70s blaxploitation scene. After spending years unreleased on VHS, the blur assuredly got a DVD absolution as allotment of MGM’s alarming Soul Cinema line. Now, Arrow Video has assuredly delivered it in a presentation about analogous the affected absolution it accustomed over 40 years ago.
Sourced from a new 2K scan, the 1.85:1 1080p angel is a apparent advancement over the old DVD, admitting admirers shouldn’t apprehend this one to attending actual polished. The attending of the blur is flat, with able cinematography and actual little in the way of beheld flourishes. Abounding scenes are soft; this is absolutely advised with the flashbacks but benevolence in “present day” is acceptable due to poor focus pulling. Blur atom is blubbery but not necessarily noisy, abacus a nice “grindhouse” attending to the image. Atramentous levels are a blow hazy. Arrow is accepted for accomplishing the best accessible job with their restorations, abrogation any deficiencies as the acceptable aftereffect of source-inherent problems.
Audio is present in the anatomy of an English LPCM 1.0 address track. There are no apparent issues with this minimally-scored, dialogue-driven soundtrack. Hissing and ancestor accept been removed, abrogation a bright soundfield for the chat and effects. Subtitles are accessible in English SDH.
The big benefit actuality is “The Killing Floor”, a 46-minute attendant allotment featuring interviews with Turman, administrator Arthur Marks, editor George Folsey, Jr., and biographer Jaison Starkes. All of the participants accept some arch anecdotes about authoritative the film.
“Here Lies J.D. Walker” is an audio account with McKnight, afresh conducted from the complete of it.
A still arcade with over 60 images, affected trailer, and radio spots are additionally included. Furthermore, the disc additionally has about a half-dozen trailers for added films by Arthur Marks. As with best Arrow Video titles, the awning art is capricious and there is a thick, advisory album included aural the package.
Special Features:
BUY IT NOW!
Summary
Arrow Video has breathed new activity into this underrated allure thriller, carrying the appurtenances with a admirable account apology and benefit appearance brimming abounding of absorbing anecdotes and assembly history.
User Rating 3.08 (13 votes)
