Here's every segment of classic horror anthology Tales From The Hood ranked. Horror anthology movies offer viewers a variety of chilling tales, with some of the best examples of the format including the original Creepshow or Trick r' Treat. The anthology is also alive and well on the small screen, from Inside No.9 to Shudder's revival of Creepshow.
Easily one of the best anthology horror movies of the 1990s is Tales From The Hood. Co-written and directed by Rusty Cundieff, Tales From The Hood cast Clarence Williams III as a creepy mortician who leads three drug dealers around his mortuary, recounting how several dead bodies made their way there. In addition to featuring tales of zombies, monsters and demons, the movie draws on real-life horrors like racism, domestic abuse and gang violence.
Sadly, Tales From The Hood wasn't much of a success in 1995, but over the years it's become hugely popular and is seen as a precursor to socially-charged horror movies like Get Out. Rusty Cundieff and his co-writer Darin Scott eventually returned for Tales From The Hood 2 in 2018, which was followed by Tales From The Hood 3 in 2020. Here's a ranking of every segment in the original movie.
"KKK Comeuppance"
"KKK Comeuppance" is Tales From The Hood's fourth story, which focuses on Corbin Bernsen's slimy, racist senator who is residing in a former slave plantation. In the past, his grandfather infamously led a massacre of slaves and an urban legend claims their souls reside in dolls created by a witch.
Every segment in Tales From The Hood's is great, so even if "KKK Comeuppance" is the "weakest," it's still a solid horror tale. Bernsen thoroughly embodies the wretchedness of the character, and it's satisfying watching the past come back to rip apart his life - literally, in this case. The doll is also a nice nod to Trilogy Of Terror.
"Welcome to My Mortuary"
The wraparound sections of most horror anthologies are usually considered the weakest, with many existing just to set up the stories. Not so, in the case of "Welcome To My Mortuary." Clarence Williams III is a delight as the sinister Mr. Simms and injects some welcome humor into tales that can disturb on a deeper level. The ending to this wraparound may not be a major shock, but it's pulled off with gusto.
"Hard-Core Convert"
Tales From The Hood's "Hard-Core Convert" cast the late Lamont Bentley as Crazy K, a ruthless gang member who is shot and nearly killed after gunning down a rival. Dr. Cushing (Rosalind Cash, The Omega Man) - a character name that nods to Peter Cushing - gives Crazy K a chance to get out of a life sentence if he takes part in a procedure to cure him of his violent impulses; when forced to look inside himself and confront his actions he doesn't like what he finds.
"Hard-Core Convert" is an unflinching look at gang violence, with the most disturbing moment finding Crazy K forced to look at images of real lynchings intercut with other shots of gang executions. While the sets might be invoking a trashy b-movie, it's a story with real bite.
"Rogue Cop Revelation"
Tales From The Hood's "Rogue Cop Revelations" finds a young black police officer named Clarence haunted by his lack of action when three corrupt officers brutally beat and murder a councilman and black rights activist; a year later, Clarence helps the victim tip the scales. Inspired by the Rodney King beating, this story somehow manages to combine a pulpy revenge tale from beyond the grave tale with harrowing reality.
"Boys Do Get Bruised"
Arguably the most disturbing story in the movie, "Boys Do Get Bruised" focuses on a withdrawn boy named Walter who often shows up to his new school with bruises. This draws concern from his teacher - played by director Cundieff - especially when Walter claims a monster is doing it.
Tales From The Hood's "Boys Do Get Bruised" confronts domestic abuse and is probably best remembered for David Alan Grier's disturbing performance as Walter's stepfather. The special effects in the finale might be a little cartoony, but this does little to diminish this segment's impact.