How is the army of zombies created in Sugar Hill?

Mama Maitresse, a voodoo queen, summons Baron Samedi who raises a zombie army to help Sugar Hill avenge her fiancé’s murder.

Action Cult Classic

Voodoo vengeance rises in Houston’s underworld as Sugar Hill serves justice with a zombie army.

SUGAR HILL

Meet Sugar Hill and her zombie hitmen... The mafia has never met anything like them!

1974 · 1h 31m · PG · Action / Crime / Horror · IMDB TMDB

The story centers on Diana "Sugar" Hill (Bey), a photographer in Houston whose boyfriend, nightclub owner Langston (Larry D. Johnson), has been killed by mob boss Morgan (Robert Quarry) and his men when he refused to sell the club to Morgan. Sugar seeks the help of a former voodoo queen named Mama Maitresse (Zara Cully) to take revenge on Morgan and his thugs. Mama summons the voodoo lord of the dead, Baron Samedi (Don Pedro Colley), who enlists his army of zombies to destroy the men who killed Langston and now want the club. Investigating the killings is Sugar's former boyfriend, police Lt. Valentine (Richard Lawson).

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Quick Answer

What is Sugar Hill about?

Sugar Hill is a 1974 American action-crime-horror film directed by Paul Maslansky about a woman who seeks supernatural vengeance against gangsters using the power of voodoo and an army of zombies.

Programmer's Pick

Part voodoo revenge fantasy, part blaxploitation, Sugar Hill goes for broke with undead justice and a heroine who’s as stylish as she is vengeful. If you like your zombies with a side of social commentary and Houston heat, you’re in for a treat.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Sugar Hill blends blaxploitation attitude with folk horror for a revenge tale set in Houston’s criminal underbelly. Diana “Sugar” Hill is a photographer whose fiancé, nightclub owner Langston, is murdered by mob boss Morgan and his thugs after refusing to sell his club. Grief quickly turns to righteous fury, and Sugar turns to the supernatural for help. With the assistance of Mama Maitresse, a former voodoo queen, Sugar strikes a pact with Baron Samedi, the Lord of the Dead. In exchange for her soul, she commands a fearsome army of zombies to mete out poetic justice on those responsible. Expect gothic voodoo, Southern grit, and a protagonist who refuses to play the victim.

Details & Specs

Director: Paul Maslansky
Writer: Tim Kelly
Release: 1974
Runtime: 1h 31m
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Genres: Action, Crime, Horror
Also Known As: Zombies of Sugar Hill

Why This Matters

This film represents American International Pictures' continued blending of horror and blaxploitation genres following their earlier successes with Blacula and its sequel, and uniquely incorporates voodoo and themes of slavery into its zombie narrative.

— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Paul Maslansky Writer: Tim Kelly

Marki Bey Diana 'Sugar' Hill

Robert Quarry Morgan

Don Pedro Colley Baron Samedi

Betty Anne Rees Celeste

Richard Lawson Valentine

Zara Cully Mama Maitresse

Charles Robinson Fabulous

Larry Don Johnson Langston RH Rick Hagood Tank Watson

Ed Geldart O'Brien AJ Albert J. Baker George RE Raymond E. Simpson King TC Truman C. Carroll Baker

Charles Krohn Captain Merrill RL Roy L. Downey Stevedore GC Gary Chason Lab Technician GS Garrett Scales Crew Chief JS John Scarborough Uniformed Cop JH Judy Hanson Masseuse PH Peter Harrell Police Photographer JR J. Randall Bell Parkhurst BW Big Walter Price Preacher

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