Number 3 — TALES FROM THE HOOD
For the month of October, we’re counting down the best horror movies of 1995! Check back every day for a new entry in the list.
Fantastic horror anthology films don’t always land the way they should. Sometimes it’s due to the segments, the creative direction, the potential lack of cohesiveness for the overall film or something else entirely. Though in the case of TALES FROM THE HOOD, it’s still at the very top in terms of being one of the best horror anthologies ever. Especially to those of us who are Black horror nerds.
For folks who aren’t in the know about this film, TALES FROM THE HOOD follows three drug dealers who find themselves listening to a mortician’s tales of terror in a funeral home. Each tale is more frightening than the next, and so is what’s really going on with Mr. Simms (Clarence Williams III). The wraparound story is guaranteed to surprise people upon their first watch. Though not an unwelcome surprise because Clarence Williams III’s performance is so memorable.
All the segments in TALES FROM THE HOOD explore different issues within the Black community, with a particular focus on Black folks in America, and they each range in terms of humorous tones. From domestic abuse, police brutality/corruption, racism, and more. Considering the characters we’re primarily focused on are drug dealers, there’s an exploration of the cycles of gang violence as well.
One of the wonderful things about TALES FROM THE HOOD is that it’s very obvious that it was written by someone from the community. There’s an authenticity to the stories, and they are told with purpose. Do some of them feel especially suitable for 1995? Absolutely. The issues haven’t gone away, but they’ve manifested differently in our current timeline. Especially with how prevalent technology and social media is at this point.
Despite the aspects of the film that are certainly of the time of its release, it’s aged quite well in terms of what it’s willing to touch base on. There’s humor woven throughout, and that’s heavily appreciated. Personally, I love the way the film is serious, but also manages to make me laugh throughout. Williams III in particular delivers such a vibrant performance, and his line delivery is perfect for what the film is trying to do.
Every segment is fantastic, but the one segment that people tend to reference the most is “KKK Comeuppance” and it’s usually because of the Plantation Dolls. The segment follows a politician named Duke Metger (Corbin Bernsen), who is a former KKK member and is in the running for governor, while staying in a former plantation house. Naturally, Duke gets what’s coming to him, and it’s done in such a way that’s terrifyingly perfect.
The themes surrounding how outright racist politicians are able to do as these please, typically without consequences, is such a timely topic as of right now. Duke Metger might seem over-the-top, not to mention most of the notable Republican/far-right politicians these days don’t all have a Southern accent, but he’s still able to run for governor. Despite being protested against. It’s these particular themes that still hit extremely hard because nothing has changed. Instead of Duke, we are constantly watching Donald Trump and the rest of his horrible band of individuals peddling far-right ideology.
TALES FROM THE HOOD’s aim isn’t merely to entertain, it’s always meant to educate folks on how these issues impact the Black community. The issues aren’t just centered around police brutality and corruption like in the first segment, “Rogue Cop Revelation,” which follows a Black cop trying and failing to change the system from the inside. Domestic abuse is also a rampant issue within the community, and the situation in “Boys Do Get Bruised” blends reality, supernatural powers, and the concept of people failing to see the signs of abuse, quite well.
Aside from the themes throughout the film, there’s so much to appreciate about the practical effects and the performances throughout. Since the film was coming out in the mid ‘90s, there’s no shortage of practical effects and fantastic set pieces aiding the deliberate social issues that we’re touching upon. The puppetry used in “KKK Comeuppance” is still great, and it proves that CGI is seldom needed.
The ending of TALES FROM THE HOOD can certainly be spoiled, thus I’m not going to do that to folks who might be hoping to watch for the first time. Though, for those who do know, it’s by far one of the best endings in a horror anthology film. Wraparound stories don’t always satisfy its audience, but this certainly isn’t one of those disappointments.
Overall, the film is without a doubt one of the best horror films, not even just anthology horror films, that came out in the ‘90s. It still doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves, especially not when it’s a Black horror film that has plenty to say socially.
