Coffy

Director - Jack Hill (Foxy Brown, The Terror)
Starring - Pam Grier (Ghosts of Mars, Bones), Booker Bradshaw (The Strawberry Statement, Star Trek), and Robert DoQui (Starman, Robocop)
Release Date - 1973
Genre - Action/Crime
Tagline - "...The baddest one-chick hit-squad that ever hit town!"
Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in middle school the blaxploitation horror flick Bones starring Snoop Dogg was released.  I saw it at K-Mart on VHS and grabbed it.  I was starting to find my horror stride within these last few years and thought it would be a cool film to own.  I watched it and really enjoyed it but I saw it as a horror flick and not a blaxploitation film.  The following weekend I found myself at the local video store where the owner was putting the VHS copies he had of the film on his shelves.  I told him I really enjoyed it and he educated me on blaxploitation.  Strange looking back at how I learned about blaxploitation from a man with a feathered mullet and porn stache.  He then recommended a few films to check out.  One of those films just happened to be Coffy which is the one I liked the most out of the ones I rented that weekend.  I watched it a few times that weekend and then forgot about it over time.  That was until recently when Olive Films released the film on blu.  They were kind enough to send that awesome release my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows Coffy (Grier) who lost her sister to a drug epidemic that is taking over her city.  She is a nurse by day and at night she is a seductive killer killing her way through drug dealers, pimps, corrupt cops and politicians, and king pins until she is able to avenge her late sister's death.

      Since that weekend with those blaxploitation films I have collected a lot of them and continue to do so.  I seriously enjoy them and can't get enough of em. Most are action packed and full of camp and cheese while riding the racial wave of the time.  Coffy is the same with only one exception, the cheese is turned down to a minimum which makes for a fun action flick.  The acting in this one is top notch for a blaxploitation flick but is far from perfect.  A lot of the cast shows a lot of heart and dedication to their role but try way too hard forcing their performance on the camera.  The same can even be said about the film's lead, Pam Grier.  Grier is sexy and the scenes that call for sex appeal was knocked out of the park.  However, the scenes that call for intensity is missed when she over does it.  The acting in this one is the film's down point but it is not really that bad.  The story for this one would go on to inspire a dozen more blaxploitation films all the way up to present day with the blaxploitation comedy Black Dynamite.  The story is fun, leaves room for plenty of action, and gives us plenty of characters to enjoy.  Out of all the blaxploitation films I have seen over the years, this one is easily the best when it comes to a story that is down to Earth.  It is not my favorite but it is easily the most grounded.  Finally, the film does have several on screen kills but most lackluster and done with a gun.  The practical effects are minimal as well which makes these kills not stand out when compared to the action films of the time.  Overall, Coffy is one hell of a film.  The film is action packed and has a great story.  I can not recommend this film enough so do yourself a favor and check this one out!