Product Description

Outta the grave and into the ghetto comes the tortured spirit of a 1940's tough-as-nails gangster who pries his way into the body of a hip and likable young soul brother (Glynn Turman, How Stella Got Her Groove Back). With terrifying twists and turns, this spine-tingling, "sharp, hip and offbeat" (Boxoffice) adventure delivers pure urban action excitement! Ike (Turman) is having a night on the town when he volunteers to be part of a hypnotist's nightclub act. But when thedemonic spirit of a long-dead gangster muscles its way into Ike's mindall hell breaks loose! Calling himself J.D., Ike thinks he is the reincarnation of the murdered gangster as he launches a rampage of revenge to destroy those who did him in years ago. It seems no one can stop this killing machine until one of his soon-to-be-victims, a reformed hood turned preacher (Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Lou Gossett), comes to the ghastly conclusion that if he hopes to survive, he must save Ike's soul himself! *1982: Supporting Actor, An Officer and a Gentleman

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34025 in DVD
• Brand: TURMAN,GLYNN
• Released on: 2001-12-26
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.com
It's been branded with the "blaxploitation" label, but there is little that's exploitive in J.D.'s Revenge, a film of well-drawn, articulate characters dragged into a supernatural showdown. Glynn Turman (Cooley High) is especially fine as the sensitive and quiet Ike, a determined student moonlighting as a cab driver, so wound up he's on the verge of cracking. Enter (literally) the ghost of J.D., a violent, vengeful gangster murdered in the opening moments. He could be Ike's own Mr. Hyde, a dapper, flamboyant ladykiller with a fiery temper and a straight razor who slowly smothers Ike's easygoing personality. Driven by flashes of memory, he sets his vengeful sights on fire-and-brimstone preacher Reverend Bliss (Louis Gossett Jr.), whose dark past is intricately tied up with J.D.'s murder. Director Arthur Marks (Detroit 9000) sidesteps the usual spooky clichés to stir up a modern New Orleans gumbo of ghost story, gangster tale, and character drama. J.D. is both devilish sadist and avenging angel, while the tortured Ike awakens from J.D.'s violent rampages with a hole in his memory but a sick feeling from his imagined complicity in the crimes. The story gets wrapped up a little too neatly in the end, but the dark character shadings and the evocative mystery at the center of Ike's possession makes J.D.'s Revenge an unexpectedly compelling supernatural thriller. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Endless Repetition...
I first saw this in the late 70's while on a USN ship in the Med. It was a good distraction - and absolutely hilarious! In those days, the crews would exchange movies while underway via a large canvas bag. We'd send our "viewed" movies to another ship in exchange for the movies they'd seen.
EVERY EXCHANGE we'd end up with a copy of J.D.'s Revenge and Revenge of the B Girls. J.D.'s Revenge was so funny that the crew and wardroom watched it nearly every night for nearly 6 months. In a few months, nearly everyone had memorized the entire movie. It was like J.D. was taking over the crew...
Yup. Life was much harsher in the "Old Navy". How could anyone NOT want such an enjoyable (and quotable) movie?

A Real Surprise! This Supernatural Thriller Is!
Devoted fan of Soul Cinema Collection, I was not a little glad to find "J.D.'s Revenge" another hidden gem of the series. Not exactly a blaxploitation work (though originally released from American International, company famous for Pam Grier's movies), "J.D.'s Revenge" is a rivetting shocker that has still considerable power to grip your heart.

Set in modern New Orleans, the film tells a story of a law school student working as a taxi driver, Ike (Turnan, superb acting). One day, just for fun, he and his friends decide to see a hypnotist's show, in which Ike volunteers to be on the stage. Being hypnotized as part of the show, however, he sees something very weird ... and his plight begins. Haunted by the repeated nightmarish vision, he starts to behave like someone else. Or, maybe, he really became another person....

The film uses fine locations of New Orleans, and all the cast give their great performance. Most notable is Turnan, whose changing personality compels you to keep watching the film; also good is Gosset Jr. (credited as Lou Gosset) as a preacher who has a secret in his past (though his part is smaller than Tarnan) Though made with low budget, "J.D.'s Revenge" entertains you more than you expect. But note: the film is very violent, and sometimes repellent (one character is physically assaulted, and the scene is painful to watch). Still, the vitality of the film is undeniable. My only complaint is its banal title and a little flat ending. The film's good, though.

Interesting...
This movie came out when I was about nine years old. Just out of the blue, the title popped into my head and I decided to purchase it....

The movie literaly had me on the edge of my seat once JD's spirit took over Ike's body. I disliked how this possession affected those close to Ike. He couldn't remember hurting his girlfriend or one of his customers. JD was CRAZY!!! It really did not take me long to figure out who killed JD and his sister, but I don't want to give it away. If your into "blaxplotation" movies, check this one out...