By Malice Intended

The early 1990’s was a renaissance period for young African American filmmakers.  The “Black Exploitation” period of the 1970’s had long since passed, and in its place emerged the era of the “Hood” film. Two films released two years apart from each other would effectively give both the first and last word on the growing movement, providing a set of virtual bookends for an entire period of black filmmaking.

Boyz N the Hood was written and directed by John Singleton and released on July 12th 1991.  It offered a more story/narrative driven alternative to the docudrama style of Spike Lee films and also served as a cinematic counterpart to the West Coast Gangsta Rap albums that were popular at the time; giving audiences a visual representation of those themes.    

Menace II Society was written and directed by twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes and released on May 26^th, 1993.  It dealt with similar subject matter as Boyz, but from a harsher perspective.  It is not so much a “message film” as it is a modern crime drama, more character driven than plot driven.  Both Boyz and Menace are masterpieces of their respective genre, but which one is the definitive “Hood” film?

Boyz N the Hood is a coming-of-age tale set in South Central Los Angeles.  It plays like a virtual remake of 1975’s Cooley High, right down to the plot specifics and characterizations.  Trey Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is a hard working High School student being raised by his stern single father Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne).  Trey’s friend “Doughboy” (Ice Cube) divides his time between guzzling bottles of malt liquor on his mother’s porch and selling crack.  Doughboy’s half-brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut) is a high school football star hoping to get a scholarship to USC. 

Toward the end of the film, Doughboy becomes a killer to avenge the murder of a loved one.  At this point the film switches gears into full on tear-jerker territory.  Doughboy’s crime of passion is indicative of the films overall attitude toward violence:  it exists on the periphery and is unfortunate, but one can navigate around it with the proper guidance.  Trey has a suitable guardian in his father, who prevents him from being a participant or victim.    Doughboy has no one.    

Menace II Society is a modern urban nightmare that shows South Central Los Angeles to be Hell on Earth.  Its protagonist, Caine (Tyrin Turner), is high school graduate who sees little significance in such a milestone.  He sells drugs for pocket change, but graduates to violent crime with the help of his sociopathic younger friend O-Dog (Larenz Tate).  Caines life plays out like a series of bad decisions followed by even worse consequences.   

O-Dog is easily the most memorable character in the film.  As Caine’s voice-over states, he truly is “America’s Nightmare”: Profane, violent, and unpredictable.  He is both repulsive and fascinating.  We awe at the fury and abandon of his rampages but cringe at the grisly results.  His casually murderous tendencies are indicative of Menace’s bleak worldview:  Violence is random, frequent and inescapable.  No one is immune or exempt, from grocery store owners to drug addicts to rival gang bangers.  Anyone can be a victim, or collateral damage, at any time. 

It’s interesting to note how differently each film was received.  Boyz quickly became the highest grossing film of its kind up until that point, receiving Oscar nods for both director and screenplay.  Menace was released to mostly positive reviews but received no attention from the Motion Picture Academy.  It was hugely profitable but didn’t set any box office records.   

Our love for happy endings stems from our collective optimism.  No matter how bad things get, we’d like to believe there is a way out.  Our nightmares serve as a reminder that such aspirations are not always attainable.  Staying power is the calling card of a true classic, whether it’s the warm feeling cultivated by a happy ending or the sadness of a dream deferred.  The critical reception and financial success of Boyz paved the way for the much harsher Menace.  Both provide unforgettable visions of “The Hood”, but which one truly stands the test of time?

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