50 Years of SIFF: Black Dynamite
November 24 - December 3, 2023
When 'The Man' murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, 1970s African-American action legend Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to take him on.
Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about? No, not him, I'm talkin' about Black Dynamite. When “The Man” murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages, and floods the ghetto with a secret weapon disguised as Anaconda malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the only hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. He's a master of kung fu, has a lot of guns, and beds the most beautiful women in the hood. In short, Black Dynamite is every hero you wish you could be. A hit at many film festivals at the time and ultimate SIFF 2009 Golden Space Needle Audience Award winner, Black Dynamite is a pitch-perfect ode to 1970s Blaxploitation movies and television. Director Scott Sanders, along with his co-writer and star Michael Jai White, craft a scalpel-sharp satire of the entire genre, right down to the Naugahyde jackets, casual sexual harassment, and outrageously large Afros. So settle yourself down at the midnight grindhouse, light up a Fred Williamson cigar, and enjoy some Black Dynamite-style kick-ass set to the most funktastic bouncing beats you’ll ever hear.
- Director: Scott Sanders
- Principal Cast: Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Byron Minns, James McManus
- Country: USA
- Year: 2009
- Running Time: 90 min.
- Producer: Jon Steingart, Jenny Wiener Steingart
- Screenplay: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Scott Sanders
- Cinematographers: Shawn Maurer
- Editors: Adrian Younge
- Music: Adrian Younge
- Website: http://www.blackdynamite.com
- Filmography: Aztec Warrior (2016), Black Dynamite (2009), Thick as Thieves (1999)
- US Distributor: Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group