Da Sweet Blood of Jesus

Da Sweet Blood of Jesus

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Spike Lee
Produced by Spike Lee
Chiz Schultz
Written by Spike Lee
Starring Felicia Pearson
Elvis Nolasco
Zaraah Abrahams
Steven Hauck
Stephen Tyrone Williams
Music by Bruce Hornsby
Cinematography Daniel Patterson
Edited by Randy Wilkins
Production
company
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures
Release dates
Running time
 123 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1,418,910[2]

Da Sweet Blood of Jesus is a 2014 revenge thriller film,[3] film directed by Spike Lee. It was the first of Lee's films to be funded through Kickstarter.[2] The film was released on June 22, 2014 at the American Black Film Festival as the closing film.[4] The film was released in theaters and on VOD on February 13, 2015, by Gravitas Ventures.

Plot

Spike Lee describes the film as being about: "Human beings who are addicted to blood. Funny, sexy and bloody. A new kind of love story (and not a remake of 'Blacula')." [5] The film has also been described as being "...a remake — at times scene for scene and shot for shot — of “Ganja and Hess,” playwright and filmmaker Bill Gunn’s landmark 1973 indie that used vampirism as an ingenious metaphor for black assimilation, white cultural imperialism and the hypocrisies of organized religion." [6]

Cast

Production

Because of the film's low budget, it was completed in only 16 days.[7] It was filmed in Martha's Vineyard and in New York City.[8] Lee confirmed that director Steven Soderbergh contributed $10,000 to Lee's Kickstarter fundraiser to get the film launched into production.[9]

Release

The film was released on VOD on February 13, 2015, by Gravitas Ventures.[10]

Reception

Da Sweet Blood of Jesus received mostly negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 35%, based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 4.9/10.[11] On Metacritic, the film has a rating of 52 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]

References

  1. ↑ "‘Da Sweet Blood of Jesus’ Review: Spike Lee’s Bloodless Vampire Tale - Variety". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Spike Lee (July 21, 2013). "The Newest Hottest Spike Lee Joint". Kickstarter. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  3. ↑ Shawn Macomber (February 16, 2015). "Da Sweet Jesus is discribed as a ultra-brutal revenge thriller dubbed a "Spike Lee Film" rather than a "Spike Lee Joint."". Fangoria. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Spike Lee’s ‘Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus’ Closes The 2014 American Black Film Festival". The Source. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ Wickman, Forrest. "Spike Lee’s Kickstarter Movie Is a Surprise Remake. Will Supporters Get What They Paid For?" 24 June 2014. Slate.
  6. ↑ Foundas, Scott."Film Review: ‘Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.’" 23 June 2014. Variety.
  7. ↑ Bernstein, Paula (October 12, 2013). "It's A Wrap: Spike Lee's Kickstarter Project, 'Da Blood of Jesus' Finishes Shooting". Indiewire. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ Dickson, Evan (November 15, 2013). "Spike Lee's Scary New Film 'Da Sweet Blood of Jesus' Is Already Shot!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  9. ↑ Rosen, Christopher (July 23, 2013). "Spike Lee: Steven Sodergergh Pledged $10,000 To Kickstarter". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. ↑ Etan Vlessing. "Gravitas Ventures Acquires Spike Lee's 'Da Sweet Blood of Jesus'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus". rottentomatoes.com. February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Da Sweet Blood of Jesus". Metacritic. Retrieved February 13, 2015.

External links