COFFY: BLACK AND STRONG

Having paid her dues in several co-starring roles in a number of exploitation films, actress Pam Grier was given top billing in her first film, a lead title in the then hot genre known as Blaxploitation. Blaxploitation films featured predominantly black casts in more often than not stereotypical roles (i.e. pimp, prostitute, detective, etc.) but eventually evolved into more mainstream style action heroes. This is a good example of that.

Coffy is a nurse who has witnessed firsthand the damage done by drug dealers in her city. Not only does she deal with them at her chosen profession, her younger sister was hooked on drugs by these dealers on the streets. Now she takes to those same streets at night in order to wreak vengeance upon them. It escalates to more blood spilling when the same dealers kill a police friend of Coffy’s.

Infiltrating the gang led by top man King George (in full “pimp” style regalia with cape and all) Coffy sets the organization up against their suppliers. At the same time when the chance presents itself she opens up with whatever weapon she has at hand to kill a few on her own. Before the movie ends the streets will run red and vengeance will be extracted, but will Coffy survive?

The movie was written and directed by Jack Hill, famous for movies like SPIDER BABY and giving Grier her earlier break into film in movies like THE BIG BIRD CAGE and THE BIG DOLL HOUSE. Reunited here they work together to create a credible heroine whose means might be a bit off kilter but whose reason for doing what she does is noble. It almost harkens back to the Wild West movies where the rancher loses all only to go after those who burned down his house.

There is plenty of action on screen to see from start to finish. Grier does a solid job of acting here but it’s interesting to watch her from here into subsequent films to witness her abilities increase with each one. She should have had more opportunities than she did and not be relegated to mostly this genre, but such is Hollywood, a land that screams about equality and then did little about it.

The quality of this release from Olive is well made offering the best picture quality available with limited extras. The fact that they chose to release this alongside 3 other gems from the genre speaks well of them for doing so. Fans of Grier and the genre will want to add all 3 of her films in the mix.

 
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