5 anthology horror films you should seek out this Halloween

Tales From the Hood (1995)

One of the more socially aware horror films out there, director and co-screenwriter Rusty Cundieff crafts a film that mixes ghosts and ghouls with the real-world terror of racism and urban violence.

The film follows a trio of gang members after they accidentally wind up in the funeral home of Mr. Simms (Clarence Williams III). Mr. Simms decides to tell them a series of stories about the mortuary’s deceased residents, all of whom found themselves at the mercy of violent, real-world situations.

What Tales From the Hood does is makes the audience think not strictly about spooky dolls or zombies — though there are plenty of those to be found — but whether that fear is outweighed by the real horrors of gang warfare, domestic violence, and police brutality. At times what’s terrifying isn’t the supernatural entities, but the haunting imagery of watching a black man being beaten by the police while “Strange Fruit” plays.

Cundieff isn’t subtle, nor should he be. That being said, he knows how to craft a horror film. One of the stories involves the dolls of a former voodoo queen and if you find the word “doll” to conjure up horror for you…prepare yourself. Other stories involve the likes of zombies, monsters, and nightmares, all of which yield different rates of return. Either way, Tales From the Hood sticks with you, and there’s a sequel out now!

Rent on Amazon, YouTube, and Google Play.