"Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror" is an urban anthology narrated by the ever so lovable Snoop, apparently playing the ghetto devil or something. I'm not exactly sure what's going on with the wraparound story, but it doesn't really matter, because the stories in the anthology are mostly good fun. The film is directed by Stacy Title, so anyone who has seen her morbid comedy "The Last Supper" will be pleased to find her sick sense of humor is still intact. Throw this in The first story concerns a tough but good-hearted street graffiti artist named Posie, who has a run-in with some nasty local guys. She finds herself possessed by powers given to her by what looks like a demonic bum (played by B-movie icon Danny Trejo) that allow her to destroy with her spray paint and she starts ridding of the gangsta scum in her hood. This segment is lots of fun and has lots of over-the-top gore, including a death by 40oz impalement (no kidding! Best movie death ever?!) It's a bit wishy-washy in its characterization and moralizing, but it's an overall good effort. The second tale is equally fun, though the plot line is a bit goofy. It involves a bunch of black Vietnam vets who reside in a house owned by their former white commanding officer. When he gets offed, his racist son shows up to take over the house, milking them of their money and food and space. The problem with this one is the hick son (played too crazily by Anson Mount) is so irritating he's practically unwatchable. But ah well, this one was nasty enough to keep my attention and performances by Ernie Hudson and Brande Roderick sort of cancel out Mount. The last story involves a rap star whose former partner met an untimely death while their career was just taking off. When partying in his hotel room, he's encountered by the manager (the fantastically funny Lin Shaye) who turns out to be a ghost or demon who confronts him with his past evil deeds. While it does have its funny moments, this segment is the most serious in tone. "Hood of Horror" gets bonus points for taking on issues like gender constructs in the street, urban housing plights, and hip hop rivalry and adapting them to a horror setting. It's not always successful but it's certainly commendable. If you don't take "Hood of Horror" too seriously, there's a chance you'll find it a wickedly funny horror anthology in the vain of HBO's "Tales from the Crypt" or "Tales from the Hood." It's strong points are its sense of humor and use of distasteful gore. It's better than all the other recent "urban" horror flicks that have been flooding the straight-to-DVD market. It's probably best enjoyed with friends and forties.
Review of Hood of Horror
