Tales From The Hood
directed by Rusty Cundieff
directed by Rusty Cundieff
This older horror/thriller movie anthology comes from the older Tales From The Crypt movie/series which itself was inspired by the old EC comic of the same name which in turn gave ideas to such creatives as Stephen King.
It's not my original idea but Black American history is similar to a horror novel plot.
Being robbed of your culture, name and religion, being kidnapped from your own nation, being beaten, tortured, raped, and enslaved for a quarter of a millennia and being successfully taught to hate yourself is horrific. Tales From The Hood is a decent non-explicit horror film, though by modern standards the 1995 special effects are horribly dated.
This movie has a strong morally didactic tone. YMMV, but I thought that the movie successfully blended the supernatural with musings on Black self-hatred, racism, selfishness, domestic violence and other social issues.
Three Los Angeles gangsters/drug dealers (Joe Torry, De'Aundre Bonds, Samuel Monroe) learn that a mortician, Mr. Simms (Clarence Williams III), has some drugs to sell.
The young men have no intention of paying Mr. Simms. Simms is strange. He's unbothered by the trio's profane threats, aggressive behavior, or weapons. Simms insists on telling stories associated with the people in his coffins. These tales include:
Rogue Cop Revelation
A Black rookie cop (Anthony Griffith) is tricked and bullied by his white fellow officers (Wings Hauser, Duane Whittaker, Michael Massee) into assisting with their drug setup and murder of a Black councilman (Tom Wright) who criticized police brutality and corruption.
Suffering from alcohol mediated guilt the Black cop resigns. But the cop has the persistent feeling that the Black councilman isn't dead.
Boys Do Get Bruised
A conscientious teacher (the director Rusty Cundieff) notices that a new student (Brandon Hammond) has bruises and black eyes. Initially thinking other students are responsible, the teacher comes to believe that the boy is abused at home. The boy says a monster hurt him.
The teacher visits his student's home. Speaking to the boy's mother (Paula Jai Parker) and her boyfriend (David Alan Grier) the teacher discovers the impossible.
KKK Comeuppance
A racist southern Senator and former KKK member (Corbin Bernsen channeling David Duke) is running for governor. Adding insult to injury the Senator has moved into his ancestor's plantation mansion, disavowing responsibility for his ancestor's actions but privately making racist comments and jokes.
For amusement and to improve his reputation, the Senator hires a Black conservative campaign manager and image consultant (Roger Guenever Smith). Legends say the spirits of tortured and murdered slaves still inhabit the mansion.
Hard Core Convert
A profoundly violent and nihilistic gangster (Lamont Bentley), commits a final murder, almost losing his own life. Saved by the police the young man is convicted and gets a life sentence.
In prison he encounters a white supremacist (Rick Dean) who congratulates him for killing other Black people. A doctor (Rosalind Cash) enrolls the gangster in a rehab program to develop a conscience. The stakes are higher than the gangster realizes.
This movie is almost by definition a Saturday afternoon movie. Some of the performances are over the top. It looks like everyone had fun. It's not explicit in terms of violence by today's standards. Spike Lee produced this film. The director also did Fear Of A Black Hat.
