FoxyBrown

Foxy Brown (1974)

When drug dealers gun down a government agent they get way more than they bargained for. This particular government agent was the man of bad ass Foxy Brown, who decides to take the law into her own hands and go after the dealers that everyone else can’t get to. She traces the organization back to the madam who uses her girls to blackmail powerful men like judges and prosecutors to keep her dealers on the streets. Foxy goes about taking the organization apart, but saves a special punishment for the madam and her boyfriend. A very disturbing and painful punishment that have most of the guys squirming!

This movie is a blast to watch. While the story isn’t original and follows the pattern of most revenge flicks it is well paced and never boring. This movie also benefits from some well-placed humor to lighten things up, including a particularly funny bit with Foxy and her man in the hospital. Which is actually the first mistreatment of a wang that the movie is guilty of! In addition to the violence (against the wang and otherwise) the movie also boasts plenty of nudity, which is always a good thing. The cast isn’t the greatest, and Pam Grier performance is a bit rough in spots. But overall she does a good job and is backed up by a great supporting cast that includes Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear himself!) as her no good brother and Terry Carter (Abby) as Foxy’s love interest. Sid Haig gets in on the action in what is little more than a cameo towards the end of the movie, and as always does a great job.

This movie was made on a budget and it shows at times. But in spite of these limitations the movie is very well made and gets the most for it’s money. The action sequences are a bit rough and the locations/props were clearly done on the cheap. But there are some good bullet hits done with actual squibs and a knifing that looks decent. There is also a killer sequence in the movie where Foxy gouges out the eyes of a redneck and torches another that is awesome. The film is always well light and the sound is great, which just shows how good Jack Hill is, even on a budget. And of course the soundtrack, filled with groovy 70s tunes, doesn’t disappoint either.

I’m a big fan of the Blaxsploitation movie subgenre and no one does this kind of movie better than director Jack Hill. Not only is this one of my favorite Jack Hill directed flicks, but one of my favorite movies from the 70s drive-in/grindhouse era. I highly recommend this movie to anyone that is in the mood for some wang slapping and chopping. Hell even if you aren’t in the mood for that I still recommend the movie!

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer