Daniel Kaluuya stars as the founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in the powerful new biographical drama film Judas and the Black Messiah.
Kaluuya plays Fred Hampton, the inspirational leader of the Illinois Black Panther Party, whose goal was to fight the oppression of the African-American community in the late 60s United States.
Hampton was, at the age of 21, infamously killed by the FBI after having an informant named William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) get close to the young leader.
The film charts Hampton’s journey to becoming a powerful representative for change in the treatment of minority communities, as well as the betrayal that followed.
Films featuring stories about the Black Panther Party always make for riveting viewing, as the organization had a huge impact on American society following its formation, their efforts on empowering minority groups still felt to this day.
Daniel Kaluuya, who broke out in 2017’s Get Out and then featured in 2018’s Black Panther looks phenomenal in this one and it could be his best performance yet.
I have the feeling, however, that Lakeith Stanfield will steal the show as the film’s ‘Judas’ character, who seems to have been forced to betray his friend under the threat of government persecution.
Judas and the Black Messiah is directed by Shaka King and is due for release in Australia on 11 March 2021, and in the US on 12 February.
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