In my opinion (nothing humble about it), the best horror is anthology horror. It captures that campfire feeling of telling scary stories like nothing else, and the Halloween season is the perfect time for such enjoyment. Specifically, I’m here to give a review of a 1990s horror anthology that should be seen as a standout in both the decade and the subgenre: Tales from the Hood. A deliberate riff on Tales from the Crypt, director Rusty Cundieff spins the anthology horror model into a story that focuses on Black lives and fears.
I’m sure there is at least one braindead dotard reading this and immediately screaming, “Woke!” as they collect more flaky green crust in their buttcrack, but they are the loser (as always) because Tales from the Hood offers up a handful of delightfully devilish yarns that are both creatively satisfying and have the kind of moral mindset that defined their inspiration, the EC Comics horror short stories of old. Each tale has a message and something worth learning, while also making sure to pay the bills on all the horror hijinks.
Tales from the Hood Spins Stories With Sharp Commentary
The wraparound story in Tales from the Hood centers around three gang members making a drug buy at a creepy mortuary run by the eclectic Mr. Simms, played by character actor Clarence Williams III. Simms uses the bodies in his funeral home to tell the boys those titular tales. Each one takes a look at different societal issues — the systemic evils of police, domestic abuse, racist politicians, manufactured violence in the Black community — while telling their stories with all the genre abandon of a good EC Comics comic book.
Each story has its standout elements. For example, David Alan Grier shows up “Boys Do Get Bruised” and you’d never think he got known for being a comedic actor. It’s a legitimately chilling performance that still stands as one of his best. You’ve also got Corbin Bernsen as a racist Southern senator being attacked by Black dolls in a segment that had to make Charles Band blush with glee. Not to mention the incredible turn from Clarence Williams III as Mr. Simms. He is an atom bomb of entertainment every time he is on the screen. I’m so bummed we didn’t get years of Mr. Simms played by Clarence Williams III because he’s as great a horror host as the Crypt Keeper himself.
Short, Sweet, and Sinister
Tales from the Hood is like any anthology movie in that you’ll enjoy certain segments more than others. However, I wouldn’t say there is a true dud in the entire lineup. The last story, “Hard-Core Convert” is probably the weakest but it’s all part of the plan once you realize where it’s really headed. Each segment feels just as long as it needs to be, and every story has that big splash page moment you’d want if you were reading this in a comic book.
Tales from the Hood is one of the best horror flicks of the 1990s and a true champion in the subgenre of anthology horror. Hopefully, this retro review will get it on somebody’s radar because it’s a whole lot better than Rotten Tomatoes would lead you to believe. Let’s see if this review can’t help fix such an egregious error.
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