RensDad666’s review published on Letterboxd:
A well crafted horror anthology can hook me into a story as quickly as a poorly executed version can take me out. Rusty Cundieff’s 1995 cult classic Tales From the Hood stands as a testament to what a thoughtfully constructed collection of shorts can combine into. Balancing a campy, comedic tone with some rather heavy issues including domestic violence, police brutality, and race relations in a way that is all too pertinent even 30 years from release could have been a recipe for disaster, but instead we’re blessed with one of 90’s horror’s under-seen and underrated gems. The sheer amount of US societal pressures that Tales From the Hood adeptly navigates in a digestible way should be included in a filmmaking textbook.
Being executed by one director as opposed to many other horror anthologies provides much more of a succinct cohesion to its story and world building. There are so many individual elements to adore in Tales From the Hood. Christopher young’s score is a genuine throwback done tastefully, building its intensity through each story. Clarence Williams, one of my favorite character actors of all time, is in absolutely wonderful form here. The amount of times I quote “Candy!.. Makes you Dandy!” From his role in Half Baked in my head is embarrassing, and I get to add “Welcome.. to Hell, motherfuckers!” to that memory bank of incredible lines. Then perhaps my single favorite effects team in cinema history, KNB effects don’t disappoint in the slightest. Their work stands the test of time so much better than any CG SFX and aside from the slightly dated voodoo doll sequences, things are complemented wonderfully on that front. And the soundtrack? Lord I’m just a product of the 90’s what can I say?..
Getting spoiled with my start to Hooptober XII, please go see Tales From the Hood if you haven’t yet!
🚓👮🏻♂️⚰️😈🧟♂️🇺🇸🔫🪦
