Search - The Black Gestapo / The Black Six on DVD

Undiscovered Blaxploitation Gold

John Ashley Nail | Decatur, GA United States | 07/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fans of Blaxploitation will be more than satisfied with this DVD double feature. "The Black Gestapo" is a mean, nasty race-riot of a movie. A benevolent police group, the People's Army, attempts to aid the citizens of Watts, who are being terrorized by what appears to be a mob of bitter appliance salesmen. There's dissention in the army's ranks, however, and a splinter group made up of local criminals forms to run the white mob out of Watts (one wise guy is castrated in his bathtub, another is run off the road by a breast-baring Uschi Digart and shot up by the gang). The mob retreats, but this new People's Army takes their place, shaking down the citizens and having drunken orgies at their new compound (where Ms. Digart shows up again in the leader's bed). "Gestapo" is directed by R.L. (Lee) Frost, who directed such exploitation gems as "The Defilers," "The Pick-Up" and "Love Camp #7." This one's not as stylish as his earlier roughies, but he keeps the story moving with brisk pacing and plenty of sex n' violence (though mostly violence). There's not a single one of "The Black Gestapo"'s 88 minutes that's politically correct.By comparison, "The Black Six" is an After School Special, focusing on a good-natured biker gang of six Viet Nam vets (all played by pro football players, including "Mean" Joe Green) who are riding across the U.S., doing odd jobs for weak-chinned farm women or terrifying bigots at a poorly constructed roadside cafe (our heroes literally bring down the clapboard restaurant while its owner--a part I'm sure was originally written for Shelley Winters--stands by the road shrieking). The beating death of one of the brother's brother takes the guys back to a hick town to avenge his murder. By this point, you'll have heard the theme song about 12 times. You'll hear it 12 more times before the final credits. Bad acting, silly dialog and extreme afros all lead to a totally incomprehensible ending. All this hilarity is brought to us by director Matt Cimber, who later went on to direct the Pia Zadora potboiler "Butterfly," which is, in view of "The Black Six," an accomplished film.No fan of Blaxploitation can afford not to see these movies. The entertainment value is double the cost of the DVD!"