10 Best Indie Vampire Movies You've Probably Never Seen

Bill Gunn's horror film Ganja & Hess is used as evidence by Spike Lee who argues that Gunn is one of the most under-appreciated filmmakers of his era.

Ganja & Hess is a stellar vampire story that (by some interpretations) uses vampirism as a metaphor for black assimilation into American society. The film follows Dr. Hess Green (Duane Jones) who is stabbed by an ancient knife that turns him into a vampire. He falls in love with the widow Ganja (Marlene Clark) and together they try to make a life for themselves as vampires.

Ganja & Hess doesn't have much of a story as such, but instead focuses on the interactions and relationship between its two protagonists as they attempt to build new lives. It is a quietly incredible reminder of how effective vampires and horror in general can be when drawing attention to social issues, approaching them from provocative and unique points of view.

In 2014, Spike Lee remade the film under the title of Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, with the script credited both to him and to Gunn. Ganja & Hess even today is as subversive, chilling and fascinating a vampire movie as you could ever wish for.

It's also partly the subject of the great horror documentary Horror Noire, which you should absolutely check out for a deeper insight into the history of Black representation in the horror genre.