Ganja & Hess

In a striking blend of action, drama, fantasy, horror, romance, and thriller elements, Bill Gunn's 1973 film "Ganja & Hess" tells the haunting tale of Dr. Hess Green, a wealthy black anthropologist who becomes a vampire after being stabbed with an ancient, germ-infested dagger by his unstable assistant. As he navigates this new existence, Green falls in love with Ganja Meda, the estranged wife of his assistant's death, and together they engage in a deadly game of life and immortality. With its dreamlike sequences, elliptical editing, and experimental camera work, "Ganja & Hess" is a landmark 1973 indie that defies conventional storytelling techniques to immerse the audience in the characters' experiences, exploring themes of addiction, assimilation, and the hypocrisies of organized religion.