How Hollywood Failed Tales From The Hood All Three Times
When Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott described the marketing of Tales From The Hood, it’s no wonder the series lost footing. Both writers talked in detail about how the film was promoted as a spoof instead of African-American horror with a dose of social commentary via Horror Noire. Tales tackled police brutality, domestic violence, political racism, and black on black violence.
Instead of being pushed as an eye-opener to the horrors of black humanity, it was promoted as a knockoff Tales From The Crypt. Unfortunately, whenever content or a product comes along that is marketed as an imitation, a price is paid. The price for TFTH was more of an underground cult following instead of the worldwide embrace of its counterpart. Granted, this was in the 90s when this kind of black art was truly one of a kind. All other films were in the vein of Friday, Bad Boys, and Higher Learning — dramas mixed with action.
Hollywood probably didn’t truly know what to do with TFTH. I imagine the powers that be were not of the same ilk as Scott and Cundieff. There’s something about like-minded curators that bring the best of creatives. Imagine this same concept and idea, with tweaks of course, being presented alongside an Issa Rae or Jordan Peele.
After its release in 1995, we saw the lineage extend over the years to Peele’s classic, Get Out. This sparked the sequel and third installment released in 2018 and 2020. Unlike Get Out, both new Tales films were released on much more modest budgets. To be completely honest, the budget and resources can’t be compared.
https://youtu.be/fquUqN3C-SY
I don’t blame neither Cundieff or Scott for the films’ shortcomings. Savoy Pictures still holds the licensing to the original film, which means the iconic artwork and music are overpriced to be obtained. Unique ideas without the “names” behind them are subject to campy and cheap graphics. There’s not enough substance to stand on.
As we are ramping up the diversity in storytelling, I just hope this classic doesn’t get left behind. Candyman and The People Under The Stairs are being remade and properly backed. I want the same for Tales. It’s a little heavy-handed, but no more than any other films with a message.
We’ve watched Insidious build an entire universe based on the old trope of new house, old ghost and jump scares. And it’s STILL bringing out new movies in an overall subpar franchise.
I don’t want to see TFTH suffer the same fate as Killjoy.
This film was an independent horror with a black cast but underwhelming filming. While full of flaws, it was fun to see black people take risk on a clown-based scary movie. The movie went on to make several whitewashed and eye-rolling sequels.
I just think that not only should these films get the chance to fail, but be given what’s needed to succeed. That’s decent budgeting, solid casting, and understanding. There can be more than just haunted houses and nun-demons that entertain the horror crowd. Sometimes we want to see zombified activists hunt down racists.
TFTH is heading down the same path. It’ll be soon forgotten and only remembered for silliness instead of its themes. The onus is on black creatives to bring forth worthwhile ideas. But that’s useless if the green-lighters come to the table with a closed mind.
