Review of Shaft in Africa (1973) by Chris W — 18 Dec 2010

The budget for the third and final Shaft film was even larger than before. As a result, a white director was brought in to handle things. That director was John Guillermin, the man responsible for the 1970s King Kong film. That was a disaster. This however, despite being a mixed bag, is halfway decent (all things considered).

The plot concerns Shaft going to Africa to infiltrate a modern day slave cartel. It's an interesting idea filled with some good subtext and social issues. However (and this may or many not have to do with Guillermin being white), the film also comes across as rather pandering, racist, and offensive at times. The characters are caricatures and this film exemplifies the term "exploitation" in more ways than one.

Taken as a genre film though, it's not too bad. As a regular movie, well, then we have problems. There's lots of good action scenes, and this is by far the most violent of the trilogy. The camera work is good, and so is the music. There's no sign of Isaac Hayes, but the theme song by the Four Tops rocks. It was later used in a brief segue scene in Superbad (when the guys travel across town on the bus to the liquor store).

This film had the potential to be excellent both as a genre film, and as a movie with important themes and messages. It comes up short in both areas, but is still really damn fun and entertaining.