This week was a big one as we welcomed the arrival of Juneteenth as well as the premiere of the “The Blackening” the raucous horror comedy starring a cast of predominantly people of color. Since it’s the right time to tap in to our “Minority Movie Heroes” series, I thought it’d be a great time to feature five more great minority movie heroes.
Short Round – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Say what you want about “Temple of Doom,” but I love it. And I am a big fan of Short Round, who plays a constant foil to the grumpy Indiana Jones quite often. Their interplay is hilarious and engaging and I love the heroism Indie inspires with his young sidekick. Short Round is bold, brave, outspoken, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect Indiana Jones. It’s a shame the character never showed up in future iterations of the character, as he’s so under appreciated.
Tom – Bird Box
Not much is known about Tom, except that he is one of the few remaining survivors in a world where the best chance of staying alive is removing any sense of sight. In the chaotic horror film “Bird Box,” Tom is a noble survivor who takes it upon himself to lead the group that he’s apart of, and forms a relationship with Sandra Bullock’s character Malorie, raising the children Boy and Girl with her. He makes a courageous sacrifice in the climax when Malorie flees with the children, saving them from marauders.
Jeryline – Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight
Jeryline has a hard cross to bear. Literally. After being forced in between the battle of good and evil, she’s forced to basically fight for survival against a demon knight and his slimy demon hordes. She spends most of the movie doing what ever she can to protect herself and her loved ones, but she’s strong enough resist the demon knight’s allures. In the end she’s tasked with protecting the blood cross, and she now can only run.
Taylor – Poltergeist 2, Poltergeist 3
Taylor is one of the very few Indigenous heroes of the horror genre, played by Will Sampson. Taylor is a spiritual shaman who comes to the aide of Carol Anne and her family. Four years after their big haunting experience, he arrives to help them when they begin getting stalked and taunted by the evil Cane. Taylor uses his powers and knowledge of magic to help fight off Cane, amounting to a pretty underrated good vs evil war that covers the whole of the “Poltergeist” movie series.
Dick Hallorann – The Shining
Dick is one of the many characters of the Stephen King universe who is the holder of “the Shining,” something of a sick sense or resistance to pure evil or corruption. Hallorann initially helps mentor young Danny Torrance in not just learning his powers, but using them to sense and combat the corruption of the Overlook hotel, which threatens his family at every turn. Hallorann is an intriguing hero who garners some mystique through to the very end but leaves Danny with useful tools.