If the past year has taught us anything, it is that we need to elevate black voices and gain a greater perspective on the multitude of stories that could weave together to create something of greater depth than society has allowed to exist. While it is vitally important that we continue to support black artists in the present, it is equally important to look to the past to realize all of the works of art that have not been given the appreciation they deserve. Not long ago, I explored a long-lost tale of black romance in the fascinating Cane River, which would have been quite groundbreaking if it had been given a proper release when it was created. The same could be said for the little-known feature directorial debut from actor Bill Duke (Predator) known as The Killing Floor. This made-for-television film was made as a part of American Playhouse on PBS with the intention of being the first of several installments focusing on the little-known history of American workers. While this never came to fruition, this film is notable for offering a unique perspective on black labor in Chicago around the period of World War I.
What makes The Killing Floor feel more immediate is the fact that the story is based on real people. While historical documents are somewhat inconsistent after a certain point, which the film acknowledges via text before the credits start rolling, there is enough on record to get a good sense of what was going down in Chicago in the early 20th century. The heart of our story is with the young Mississippi sharecropper, Frank Custer (Damien Leake), who migrated north with his close friend Thomas (Ernest Rayford) to Chicago during World War I. In the process, Frank left behind his entire family including his wife Mattie (Alfre Woodard) and children in search of higher wages from jobs left vacant due to the exodus of men to fight the war. While very tough from both a physical and mental perspective, this opportunity allowed poor black workers the chance to make some real money and create a better life for themselves.
Frank finds himself working in the hardscrabble meatpacking industry, where a wide array of workers were coming in to do some of the hardest and most dangerous work around in search of the almighty dollar. While you might expect a film such as this to strictly be about the tensions of this melting pot of minorities working side by side, it is not as simple as that. Race is not a key factor in the tensions that permeate this particular working environment. It is the struggle for unionization that creates dramatic conflict between workers, with race eventually coming into play. At first, Frank is very suspicious of joining the “white man’s union,” as he feels that is a fight that he does not want to engage in – he just wants to make his money and mind his business. But it is not long before Frank not only changes his mind, but becomes a key member of the organization fighting for equality and safe working conditions, even when it puts him in opposition with his own community. The struggle that Frank faces between his perceived obligation to his people and those who share his values is a nuanced one that is not explored in cinema very often, especially in this time.
The movie gets a bit into the weeds at times with the labor disputes and the ramifications of certain party decisions, but there is never a point where you feel completely out to sea. The strongest part of the film is the really stellar performances from the entire cast. While mostly composed of Chicago actors who are not the most well known, there are a few notable names that stand out to modern audiences. As previously mentioned, the one and only Alfre Woodard puts in some incredible work in one of her earliest roles. Television staples such as the late Dennis Farina (Get Shorty) and John Mahoney (Frasier) show up in smaller but notable roles. The names you do not know are the ones that steal the show, though, as they bring this aspirational tale of striving for a better life to screen. Tales of the black experience in a historical context can often be clumsily told, but The Killing Floor brings a new perspective as conceived through a black lens, and the results could not be more fascinating.
Video Quality
The Killing Floor comes to Blu-Ray with a new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from a 4K restoration courtesy of UCLA’s Film and Television Archive. The presentation is simply gorgeous throughout most of the runtime, giving this modest affair a vitality that it has never been afforded previously. Instances of print damage have all but been eradicated, and overall clarity and detail is stunning. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation that should not be mistaken for digital noise. This film grain allows for some excellent textural details in the various settings of the film. The picture can run slightly soft in long shots, but colors are well saturated in a visually splendid way. Archival pieces that are integrated into the film understandably look a bit rougher than the rest of the feature. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with only a minor bit of crush detected. This new presentation is very impressive on all levels, which should please fans of the film.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a LPCM 2.0 mono track that represents this film as it was intended to be heard. The music from Elizabeth Swados sounds great throughout the duration of the film, as it creates an evocative historical tone for the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Environmental sounds such as the busting noise of the city or the slaughterhouse are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Film Movement Classics has given this film the perfectly preserved, faithful audio presentation it so richly deserves. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
This Blu-Ray set includes a multi-page booklet featuring the essay “The Killing Floor As History” by author James R. Barrett. The essay provides a great amount of historical context to the events portrayed in the film. There is also the essay “The Killing Floor and Chicago’s Black Community” by scholar and writer Joe William Trotter, Jr. which analyzes themes and plot developments and gives some additional background on events in the film. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Introduction by Director Bill Duke: A nearly three-minute Skype introduction from Duke in which he discusses the history and themes of the movie briefly while expressing his gratitude that people are still discovering the film.
- Q&A with Damien Leake and Elsa Rassbach: A 13-minute Q&A filmed in 2019 in which producer Elsa Rassbach and actor Damien Leake discuss the origins of the story, how Leake landed the lead role in the film, how they captured an authentic Chicago and more. The piece also has an unexpected drop-in from Wanda Christine, who plays the prostitute in the bar. There are a lot of good insights included here.
- The Making of The Killing Floor – Pandemic Era Conversations: A 14-minute featurette in which Rassbach hosts a virtual conversation with Leake, actor Clarence Felder and director Bill Duke in which they discuss their inspiration for the performances, learning the ways of an actual killing floor from real life workers, what this story meant to them and more.
- Interview with Elsa Rassbach: A 20-minute conversation with Rassbach in which she discusses rescuing this story from history, the talent that collaborated with her during production, getting the film produced and many more worthwhile stories.
- Trailer: A new two-minute trailer that is quite effective in establishing the stakes of the story.
Final Thoughts
The Killing Floor is a piece of film history that is ripe for rediscovery. It is not often that you get a nuanced tale of the black experience that does not devolve into a narrow depiction of racism. Bill Duke shows a real talent for directing, especially when it comes to getting some really powerful performances from his actors. The film is not without its flaws, but this long-lost feature is one that deserves your attention. Thankfully, Film Movement Classics has delivered a really amazing Blu-Ray with a sparkling A/V presentation and some really worthwhile supplemental features. Recommended
The Killing Floor is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Film Movement Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
