Denise Gordy, born into the influential Gordy family, made her mark in cult cinema with her roles in Black Fist (1977) and Reform School Girls (1986). In Black Fist, she brings a dynamic presence to the gritty narrative of underground boxing, while in Reform School Girls, she embodies the rebellious spirit of the titular characters. Her connections to the Motown legacy and her diverse talents, including vocal contributions to film soundtracks, enrich her performances, making her a distinctive figure in the realm of exploitation cinema.
Black Fist
A low-rent street tough named Leroy Fisk who is brought into the world of a black market (no pun intended) street fighting ring. He does well until he refuses to be the white leader's stable boy anymore and wants out. The gang leader then kills his family as a goodbye present, and Leroy has to get revenge on the crime syndicate one by one. The film itself isn't great. The story is simple and drags from time to time, and the ending is a bit weird. The lighting, as with many Blaxploitation films, leaves much to be desired. But still, all those things aside, this film is surprisingly watchable. The street fights, although no Sonny Chiba or Bruce Lee, are handled well for the most part. And I guess I'm just a sucker for a good revenge flick. So if you're in the mood for some Blaxploitation that you can actually sit through, give this film a shot. Trust me, I've seen much much worse.
