J D's Revenge (1976)

"Surprisingly Watchable Exploitationer"

Or should that be Blaxploitationer? Either way, Arthur Marks' J D'S REVENGE, a 1970s film I'd never heard of until I received the press release, is getting a 2k dual format release from Arrow, and if you're a fan of movies from this era, you'll definitely want to catch up with it.

In the New Orleans of 1942, gangster J D Walker (David McKnight) ends up getting shot dead in a meat locker where he has arranged to meet a girl who also ends up meeting a sticky end. 

Flash forward to 'the present' (ie 1976,) and law student Ike (Glynn Turman) goes out for a night on the town with girlfriend Christella (Joan Pringle). Part of the evening's entertainment involves a stage hypnotist act. While the other volunteers end up taking off their trousers and engaging in general tomfoolery, Ike sees some rather graphic images of a cow being slaughtered, followed by the brutal killing we've already seen.

After that, Ike somehow becomes possessed by the spirit of JD. A change of clothes and hairstyle later and soon Ike/JD is beating up Christella, swearing mightily, and going in search of those responsible for his death, including born again preacher Elija Bliss (Lou Gossett, Jr), so he can see justice is done.

J D'S REVENGE bears the AIP logo at the start, and it's quite a surprise to discover that it's one of the better exploitation pictures released by that company in the 1970s. There's a bit of a KOLCHAK / Amicus feel to the opening act as Ike spots J D's old fedora in a shop and tries it on, and anyone who's a fan of 1970s US horror TV might get a kick out of this.

Be warned, though - this is still prime 1976 exploitation, which means we get slaughterhouse scenes, rape, and general political incorrectness all round. If you're willing to accept all that for the time in which it was made, JD'S REVENGE has good acting from the leads (Turman is especially good in his 'dual' role), a nicely eerie Robert Cobert-style score, and is actually a whole lot of late 1970s exploitation fun for the entirety of its running time.

You might not expect an obscurity like this to have extras, but Arrow have managed a 46 minute making of, as well as a trailer reel for other movies by Arthur Marks (if Arrow bring out some of these they're going to be must-sees), an audio interview with David McKnight, radio spots and a stills gallery. Unexpectedly watchable and well worth picking up. 

Arthur Marks' JD'S REVENGE is out on dual format from Arrow on Monday October 30th 2017