Welcome Home Brother Charles

 



Director - Jamaa Fanaka (Penitentiary, Emma Mae)
Starring - Marlo Monte, Reatha Grey (The Terror of Hallow's Eve, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and Stan Kamber (The Fiend Who Walked the West, Warlock)
Release Date - 1975
Genre - Action
Tagline - "They tried to take everything...even his manhood"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love horror and I could never deny my obsession for the genre.  I've been a fan of fright flicks for almost 20 years and I have no desire to turn my back on the genre.  Many know me because of my love for these films but very few people know how much I love Blaxploitation flicks.  This started when I was a kid and my dad bought Truck Turner on tape.  From that point on I was often rented what few tapes the local video store had along with my normal horror selection.  Vinegar Syndrome has never let me down.  Their horror releases are superb but their Blaxploitation releases are top notch.  I can't think of another company that could outdo them in terms of Blaxploitation.  Not long ago they released the Blaxploitation double feature featuring two film from director Jamaa Fanaka.  The first in the set is the oddball Welcome Home Brother Charlie.  Once again I want to thank Vin Syn for sending this one my way. 
     The film follows drug pusher Charles (Monte) who is arrested for his crimes.  The arresting officer is racist and roughs him up before attempting to cut his penis off.  We jump three years and Charles is released from prison and wants to start over with his girlfriend but learns she has moved on and is dating his old partner.  Distraught he turns to drinking but quickly runs into a woman that tried to help him get away when he was getting arrested.  They become a couple and try to live a clean life but he is struggling to find a job due to his record and this pushes him over the edge.  He blames the police, the judge, and the prosecuting attorney for his misfortunes and sets out to kill them.
     I have a hard time explaining to people why I love Blaxploitation so much.  The stories are always fun, the characters are very colorful and unforgettable, and the action never lets me down in the cheesiest way possible.  Welcome Home is no different except this is one of the few Blaxploitation flicks that made me say "what the fuck" on more than one occasion.  The acting in this one is solid.  The cast really get into their roles which made the scenes really fun to watch.  I liked Monte as the film's star but aside from the death scenes his character is overshadowed in almost every scene.  The story for this one plays out like a traditional Blaxploitation flick until the death scenes where we have those "what the fuck" moments rearing it's head.  These scenes did feel out of place but I loved them.  They are so unexpected and make the film unpredictable.  Finally, the film does have a few deaths scenes that are void of blood and gore.  Instead, you get originality with some hilarity.  Overall, Welcome Home Brother Charles is a mediocre Blaxploitation flick that will draw the viewer in with shock value.  If you want to see big black dick then this is the film for you!  Check it out.