Superfly (2018)

Directed by: Director X. | 111 minutes | action, crime | Actors: Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Lex Scott Davis, Jennifer Morrison, Kaalan Walker, Esai Morales, Andrea Londo, Big Bank Black, Big Boi, Jacob Ming-Trent, Brian F. Durkin, Dominique Madison, Angel Love

In 1972 ‘Super Fly’ was released. The black community did not feel well represented in the media and decided to make their own films. Films in which black heroes ruled. The tough policeman Shaft (played by Richard Roundtree) was one of the first heroes of this genre. ‘Superfly’ was less memorable, but thanks to the fantastic soundtrack full of beautiful soul music by Curtis Mayfield, the film still lives on. However, this saltless remake (without space) is not going to succeed…

Youngblood Priest is a drug dealer who is thinking about quitting the whole business. However, he wants to make one last big blow and then start a new life with the fortune he has earned. However, the question is whether he will be allowed to do so. Because Priest knows quite a few shady people.​

Where to start? ‘Superfly’ is a completely unnecessary film for people who see ‘Scarface’ as a manual for their lives and think that the fictional Tony Montana was a man who made it. For people who fail to see that the sniffed and paranoid Montana lived a downright empty and meaningless life. A life full of drugs, fear, anger and delusions. People who do not see that a life in crime mainly produces hatred, violence and isolation. That cannot disguise a lot of (drug) money. ‘Scarface’ showed the demise of an immoral man. ‘Superfly’ glorifies gangster violence and tops it all off with a glossy sauce. So somewhat rancid.

If you don’t mind the glorification of gangsta rap in which drug deals, women’s oppression and gun violence are central, you can still get a little fun out of this film. The film looks glossy and looks like a video clip stretched into a cinema film. The rap music on the soundtrack reinforces that feeling. The flat acting and the snake full bitches, hoes and niggas is exhausting. This film lacks a vision other than generating (lunch) money from teenagers. ‘Superfly’ is a loveless, empty production in which expensive cars, clothing and soundtracks are plugged in. If that’s your thing and you can enjoy a stupid, beautifully shot action movie with a gangsta-rap sauce, then you should give ‘Superfly’ a chance.