NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Cult Blu-ray (July 2025): Kino have updated their 2015 transfer of Paul Maslansky's Sugar Hill to Blu-ray (in collaboration with Scorpion Releasing?) It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. Shot by Robert Jessup (Smokey and the Bandit, Race with the Devil, Futureworld,) Sugar Hill uses vibrant 1970s aesthetics to create a gritty yet stylized look. The Houston locations - urban streets, a bayou, and a dilapidated mansion for voodoo rituals - evoke a dark Southern Gothic atmosphere. Daytime scenes are brightly lit, showcasing Sugar’s bold outfits (white jumpsuits, red dresses), while nighttime zombie attacks use low-key lighting and fog to build suspense. Overall, this 1080P is the best Sugar Hill has looked on home video, capturing its vibrant 1970s style while acknowledging the constraints of its B-movie roots.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The sound is serviceable but unremarkable, typical of low-budget 1970s films. The Motown-produced soundtrack, supervised by Dino Fekaris and Nick Zesses, is a highlight, blending funk, soul, and horror cues. The standout track, “Supernatural Voodoo Woman” by The Originals, with its groovy bassline and haunting vocals, plays over the opening credits, setting the film’s bold tone. Funk instrumentals accompany action scenes, while eerie synths underscore zombie sequences, though the score occasionally feels generic, recycling blaxploitation tropes. The Blu-ray’s DTS-HD Master track delivers a solid presentation of Sugar Hill’s original sound design, constrained by the film’s modest production values. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers two audio commentaries: one by, my favorite trifecta of commentarists, film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson, which offers a scholarly analysis of the film’s blaxploitation-horror hybridity, historical significance, and genre context, Maslansky's only directorial effort (mostly known as a Producer,) stars Marki Bey (Hal Ashby's The Landlord, TV work), Zara Cully (The Jeffersons, The Mod Squad, Night Gallery,) Robert Quarry (Count Yorga, Vampire, Dr. Phibes Rises Again,) and much more. There is s second commentary by director Paul Maslansky, moderated by Bill Olsen, notable for its detailed, enthusiastic recollections of the 18-day, $400,000 shoot, including insights on locations, AIP’s involvement, zombie effects (e.g., ping-pong ball eyes), and cast dynamics (,). There are four interviews - Don Pedro Colley almost 20-minutes, Richard Lawson for 1/4 hour, Charles Robinson - 1/4 hour, and Paul Maslansky almost 17-minutes - totaling over an hour, providing firsthand perspectives: Colley discusses his over-the-top Baron Samedi role, Lawson connects his grandfather’s voodoo knowledge to the project, Robinson reflects on the cast, and Maslansky recounts working with Sam Arkoff and the “Black Voodoo” script. Lastly is a theatrical trailer narrated by Adolph Caesar, and two radio spots. 'Stacked'.

Sugar Hill is a blaxploitation-horror film that combines elements of voodoo, zombie horror, and revenge thriller. This structure aligns with blaxploitation’s formula of empowering Black protagonists against oppressive systems, infused with horror elements (specifically Haitian Vodou) that distinguish Sugar Hill from contemporaries like 1971's Shaft or the following year's Super Fly. The supernatural element - zombies controlled by voodoo - elevates Sugar’s revenge to a mythic level, framing it as a cosmic reckoning for historical and contemporary wrongs. The zombies, described by Baron Samedi as “slaves brought from Guinea” who “never forgot” their suffering, are literal embodiments of historical trauma, their silver eyes and shackled limbs evoking the dehumanization of enslaved Africans. Sugar Hill emerged during the peak of the blaxploitation era (1971–1975), when Hollywood capitalized on Black audiences’ demand for empowering narratives. Produced by American International Pictures (AIP), known for low-budget exploitation films, it reflects the genre’s blend of social commentary and sensationalism. The 1970s horror boom embraced supernatural and grindhouse aesthetics. Sugar Hill’s PG rating, avoiding gore to broaden appeal, aligns with AIP’s strategy to maximize theater attendance, though it limits its horror intensity compared to contemporaries. The Blu-ray extras package is a standout, with two insightful commentaries over an hour of cast and director interviews etc. offering substantial context for the film’s production, cultural significance, and legacy, making it desirable for genre devotees. The Kino Cult Blu-ray package has done this blaxploitation gem proud. Recommended!  

Gary Tooze