The Black Gestapo (1975)

They’re not going to take it anymore!

General Ahmed is leading an inner-city People’s Army in Watts to help them with their many problems. White hoodlums run extortion, prostitution, drugs and whatever bad people do. This is bad for the community. Ahmed is frustrated. His second in command, Kojah, therefore takes initiative to form squad that can protect the citizens. Ahmed accepts under certain conditions, not knowing what is lying ahead…

The first part of the movie shows just how scummy the white villains are. “These blacks love smack”, says one of them and they all laugh an evil laugh. Big black sunglasses and a conspicuous moustache seem to be what works for them. That is until Kojah’s vigilante squad is formed. He even starts a training camp. It’s great when people show initiative. Kojah wants to make a statement to the naughty gangsters and does so by cutting off thug and rapist Vito’s nuts. It reminded me of a certain scene in I Spit on Your Grave. Perhaps Meir Zarchi found some inspiration here? Anyway, as the vigilante squad ups the ante even more our white gangsters become increasingly scared. Their leader is NOT happy with this. “They leaned on us real hard Vince!” Vince does not find that answer satisfactory. After giving them a lecture they all leave, except for Joe. “Joe, I just don’t want to you to feel that I don’t like you. Yeah Vince?” he smiles optimistically. “You see it’s just that I think you’re the dumbest fuck in the world. Thanks Vince. You’re welcome Joe.” Joe leaves. That’s some quality dialogue right there! The vigilante squad manages to scare them away. Meanwhile General Ahmed learns that Kojah has become even worse than the common gangsters. Being the cool cat that he is, he makes a couple of counterstrikes before going in like a one man army to end Kojah’s reign of terror.

 A different kind of Neo-Nazi.

Kojah and his soldiers aren’t really given any time to make their transformation believable. It seems like they just wake up and scream “VENGANCE!” Frost makes the Nazi parallel pretty clear. We see them in their Nazi like uniforms doing the arm gesture while “sieg heil” plays over. There is something profoundly strange about seeing this. Too bad he didn’t spend more time polishing the script.

The Black Gestapo isn’t by any means a great exploitation film. While it features gratuitous nudity the violence is quite tame. There is some cool cinematography and a soundtrack that manages to be insanely funky at times. It’s no masterpiece, but it kept me reasonably entertained. Mr. Frost’s effort has encouraged me to seek out more of his catalogue. Besides, you can’t entirely dismiss a movie with a title as great as this one.

5/10