6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
A strange funeral director tells four strange tales of horror with an African American focus to three drug dealers he traps in his place of business.
Starring: Clarence Williams III, Wings Hauser, Tom Wright (I), David Alan Grier, Corbin BernsenHorror | 100% |
Dark humor | 5% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Two separate 2.0 mixes.
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Four short films comprise Tales from the Hood, all brought together under the pretense of a drug deal that seems to be headed down the wrong path when three armed youths (Joe Torry, De'Aundre Bonds, and Samuel Monroe Jr.) confront a creepy mortician (Clarence Williams III). The film, from Director Rusty Cundieff (Sprung) and Executive Producer Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing), explores timely issues in the black community -- police brutality, racism, violence in the home, and black-on-black violence -- with a pinch of dark humor, a sprinkling of the supernatural, and a whole lot of purpose.
Tales from the Hood features a satisfying 1080p transfer that could sometimes stand a little more of a natural filmic quality to it but that more often than not pleases. Grain retention is inconsistent, appearing evenly distributed in some places, a little heavier and snowier in others, and almost nonexistent in still other scenes. Never does the movie appear too smooth or lacking detail, though. Generally, in a broader sense of what the transfer has to offer, most details are fine, sharp and revealing across the board, from staples like skin and clothes to various environments under a number of lighting conditions. Indeed, the film can be, and mostly is, fairly dark. Nighttimes exteriors and lower-light interiors define much of the film. The most colorful and most evenly lit comes during the Duke segment, where daytime exteriors and well lit interiors, along with an ample amount of color, define the short. Blacks are always deep and dense throughout the entire film but do enter crush territory on occasion. Colors are stable, cheerful and accurate in that aforementioned Duke sequence and holding firm even in poor light. A bit of noise and macroblocking are evident in darker corners, but the transfer is otherwise free of serious blemish, whether source or encode.
Tales from the Hood arrives on Blu-ray with a pair of English language DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtracks, one listed as "alternate." There's not a major difference to be heard between the two. Playing primarily the main (top listed) track and switching over to the other to resample various scenes that might shed some light on the matter -- more intensive bits of action or music, for example -- yields little change. Listen hard and one might be able to make out a faint improvement in fullness and depth to the primary track, but generally speaking there seems to be no real reason to choose one over the other. Regardless of which track one chooses, the two-channel presentation is quite good, full and detailed and never wanting for significantly more stage presence than it already enjoys. The track yields several surprisingly intense effects, such as when Walter's "monster" attempts to get into his room. It's loud, intrusive in a good way, and detailed even with its aggressive posture. Gunshots, explosions, and other high power elements produce high-yield results. Music is likewise excellent, playing with impressive stage width and a fair amount of clarity throughout the range, from sharper highs to thumping lows. Ambient effects enter and define a number of environments in the film. Dialogue is well positioned in a phantom center placement with only a few occurrences of less-than-ideal clarity.
Tales from the Hood contains several supplements, including an audio commentary track and a lengthy new retrospective. The package also
features reversible cover art.
Tales from the Hood remains an entertaining and relevant film more than two decades after its release. It has aged well, a few visual effects notwithstanding, and that it hasn't lost its darkly humorous but timely edge says much on society but also the film's relative failure to make much of an impact. Still, it means well, it plays well, and both longtime fans and newcomers alike should find Shout Factory's Blu-ray a worthwhile addition to their collections. Solid video and audio are complimented by a healthy allotment of generally good bonus content. Recommended.
Collector's Edition
1982
Unrated Director's Cut
2010
1991
Director's Cut
1986
2019
Unrated Director's Cut
2006
Collector's Edition
1988
Collector's Edition
2003
2013
1994
2013
Special Edition
1982
1989
1968
1987
2018
1994
1986
2018
1987