Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Tales from the Hood’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

For the most part, modern horror anthologies tend to serve as twisted morality tales. The kind that feel like splatter-y versions of the stories of the Brothers Grimm and well, that’s not a bad thing by any means. Because that style of storytelling has treated us to tales where bad people get their just desserts, and they remind us to lead a better life, one that doesn’t involve screwing people over. But while these types of stories tend to shy away from deeper commentary, there are some horror anthology tales out there, that don’t shy from it in the slightest, and offer up some powerful commentary on our world and the human condition.
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Which is no easy task. For that kind of work usually takes a solid two-hour movie, the kind that uses all three acts to properly explore our world and our hearts. Which makes the ones that pull this off quite special for certain, and back in 1995, writer/director Darin Scott assembled a series of tales that just so happened to have incredible depth and commentary on modern issues that continue to plague our world in 2020, which makes Tales from the Hood quite the horror masterpiece. In part, because its wraparound story is vintage horror for certain, with its gothic setting and uncomfortable mystery and how it comes together is about as perfect as it gets.    

But what it does storytelling wise in its satellite stories is what truly makes this anthology so poignant and powerful. Because this is one of the few films out there to present the horror that is domestic violence in a frank manner and it is quite unsettling to see young Walter fear his mother’s boyfriend because of the pain he inflicts upon him, and it is downright heartbreaking to see him view a human being as a monster. And the relevancy and gravity of this vignette definitely haunts the viewer for certain, since we still hear tales of abuse in this manner in modern America and the relevant moments don’t end with this particularly unsettling and uncomfortable journey.

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Because this anthology also takes the time to tackle some supremely relevant issues in regard to the Black community. For it offers up a unique parable on black on black crime, one that confronts an uncomfortable truth. In that, systemic racism and how African Americans are viewed as an afterthought has left some young black men lost, to the point where they are willing to take the lives of others without giving it a second thought. For if no one cares about who they are, why should other people matter to them? Plus, it also examines cultural appropriation and the power of white privilege by way of a unique story about a racist senator who sets up shop for his reelection campaign at a plantation where slaves were once tortured, and the visceral and raw nature of these tales absolutely give the audience great pause.
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But truly, the centerpiece of this particular film, is the story that is seemingly ripped from everyday headlines. For this tale, forces the audience to sit through the cold blooded murder of a black city councilman and black rights activist at the hands of some dirty, dirty cops and this is the story that definitely sends chills down your spine for the most obvious of reasons, since it features visuals that we are bearing witness to, all too often. But this is also a tale that offers up justice as only a horror story can since one fateful night, that activist returns from the dead to exact his revenge. But while the fantasy portion of this story is entertaining for certain, the fact that this is still happening in America, definitely leaves you uncomfortable long after this story has come to a close.

Yet while we’ve talked a lot about the commentary, make no mistake about it, this is a horror film through and through and the elements that we find in the wraparound story are present in these vignettes as well. Since they all feature gore and the fantastical and the undead as well. But what this movie has to say about our world simply cannot be ignored and truly the most horrifying element of this film, is how it puts the cruelty that only mankind is capable of, on display. Which truly makes this motion picture a tour de force storytelling wise, one that you need to see as soon as possible if you haven’t yet. Simply because this is a true modern classic, one that genuinely terrifies you in the most unique and brilliant ways imaginable.  

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