HBO/FOCUS
1995 Color
98 Mins.
Horror Anthology
Clarence Williams III, David Alan Grier, Corbin Bernsen and Lamont Bentley star.
Written and Directed by Rusty Cundieff
Rated R for language, violence, gore and drug use.
I remember cutting school with my best friend Tracey, taking a cab to Amboy Cinemas and buying tickets for Casper and sneaking into Tales afterwards. Revisiting it, It's easy to see why the film has achieved such a cult status. It would be easy to write this film off especially considering the urban horror films that have come after it. But Tales from the Hood is really a solid, well rounded creative little horror anthology that ranks with the best of them. It's also refreshing to see stories like this that have a political and social subtext about violence within the urban community. The base story features a creepy, over dramatic caretaker at a funeral home who lures in three young gang members with the promise of drugs and than tells them some horrifying tales all leading up to a twist on their own story. All of the bits are surprisingly effective. The first features a politician trying to make a difference in the community but is murdered by crooked cops. One year later he returns as a mega zombie and enacts revenge. The culmination of the story is impressive effects wise and very imaginative. The second story is about a young boy whose being bullied and beaten by something he calls "the monster". It's a well done little tale with a relevant and grounded twist all played with a darkly comic tone. The third offering deals with a white supremacist running for office who resides in an old plantation with a terrible past of slavery. But there is a supernatural past as well that he dredges up to his dismay. And the final tale is about a prisoner who agrees to undergo a horrific experimental behavior modification program. Each story gets creepier as it goes along with impressive special effects and solid performances. Tales from the hood is that rare gem that holds up and may even get better with time. ****.25/5
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