Ganja & Hess

Anthropologist Dr. Hess Green (Duane Jones, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD) develops a vampiric thirst for blood after his assistant stabs him with an ancient cursed dagger. Drama further intensifies when Ganja, the assistant's wife, arrives at his wealthy estate searching for answers.

Directed and written by Bill Gunn, GANJA & HESS (1973, 78 min) explores race, religion, addiction, and sexuality through an experimental filmmaking style. Gunn’s ability to merge arthouse, horror, and blaxploitation results in a unique film regarded as a cult classic.

In this class, we will discuss the film's impact on elevated horror, independent filmmaking, and Black culture.

This class will be taught by MMU Education Instructor, Kristina Mucker. Her previous classes include She’s Gotta Have It (1986), The Blackening (2022), Prozac Nation (2001) and the multi-week courses Black Southern Gothic and Absent Narratives: Black Queer Romance.

Class size will be limited to 18.

Questions? Email us at education@moviemadness.org