Hood film
Encyclopedia
Hood film is a film genre originating in the United States
in the late 1980s to early 1990s, which features aspects of urban culture such as hip hop
music, street gangs, racial discrimination, poverty, and the problems of young black men coming of age or struggling in a predominantly white
society. Such films predominantly feature African American
actors.
The prototypical hood films are Boyz n the Hood
and Menace II Society
, whose serious storytelling approach popularized the type. As early as 1996, however, hood films were seen as a stereotype against which black filmmakers constantly struggled to avoid comparison or compartmentalization. The genre has also been parodied with such films as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
.
British films of this genre have also been made, such as Bullet Boy
. The French films La Haine
and Banlieue 13 are also examples of this genre.
John Singleton, Mario Van Peebles
and the Hughes Brothers
are examples of directors in this genre.
Several critical essays about the genre were written by Paula J. Massood, now a professor at Brooklyn College
. Critic Murray Forman notes that the "spatial logic" of hip-hop culture, with heavy emphasis on place-based identity, locates "black youth urban experience within an environment of continual proximate danger", and this quality defines the hood film. In a 1992 essay in Cineaction, Canadian critic Rinaldo Walcott
identified the hood film's primary concerns as issues of masculinity and "(re)gaining manhood for black men".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the late 1980s to early 1990s, which features aspects of urban culture such as hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
music, street gangs, racial discrimination, poverty, and the problems of young black men coming of age or struggling in a predominantly white
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
society. Such films predominantly feature African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
actors.
The prototypical hood films are Boyz n the Hood
Boyz N the Hood
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood film written and directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett and Regina King, the film depicts life in poor South Central Los Angeles, California and was filmed and released...
and Menace II Society
Menace II Society
Menace II Society is a 1993 urban crime drama and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. Menace II Society is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows the life of a hoodlum named Caine Lawson and his close friends. The film gained notoriety for its frequent scenes of...
, whose serious storytelling approach popularized the type. As early as 1996, however, hood films were seen as a stereotype against which black filmmakers constantly struggled to avoid comparison or compartmentalization. The genre has also been parodied with such films as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is a 1996 parody film by Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Similarly to I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, the film spoofs a number of black, coming-of-age, 'hood films' such as Juice, Jungle Fever, South Central, Higher Learning, Do the Right...
.
British films of this genre have also been made, such as Bullet Boy
Bullet Boy
Bullet Boy is a 2005 film directed by Saul Dibb, written by Saul Dibb and Catherine Johnson, and stars Ashley Walters. The film's original music was composed and performed by Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, who released it as an album...
. The French films La Haine
La Haine
La Haine is a 1995 French black-and-white film written, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. It is commonly released under its French title in the English-speaking world, although its American VHS release was entitled Hate. It is about three teenage friends and their struggle to live in...
and Banlieue 13 are also examples of this genre.
John Singleton, Mario Van Peebles
Mario Van Peebles
Mario "Chip" Cain Van Peebles is an American director and actor who has appeared in numerous Hollywood films. He is son of filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles.-Life and career:...
and the Hughes Brothers
Hughes Brothers
Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes , known together professionally as the Hughes brothers, are American film directors, producers and screenwriters...
are examples of directors in this genre.
Several critical essays about the genre were written by Paula J. Massood, now a professor at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
. Critic Murray Forman notes that the "spatial logic" of hip-hop culture, with heavy emphasis on place-based identity, locates "black youth urban experience within an environment of continual proximate danger", and this quality defines the hood film. In a 1992 essay in Cineaction, Canadian critic Rinaldo Walcott
Rinaldo Walcott
Rinaldo Walcott is a Black Canadian academic and writer, currently employed as an associate professor at OISE/University of Toronto in the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education. He was previously an assistant professor in the Division of Humanities at York University...
identified the hood film's primary concerns as issues of masculinity and "(re)gaining manhood for black men".
List Of Hood Films
- Colors (film)Colors (film)Colors is a 1988 police procedural crime film starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall and directed by Dennis Hopper. The story takes place in South Central Los Angeles, and is about Bob Hodges , an experienced LAPD Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums Police Officer III, and his rookie partner,...
, 1988 - Do the Right ThingDo the Right ThingDo the Right Thing is a 1989 American dramedy produced, written, and directed by Spike Lee, who is also a featured actor in the film. Other members of the cast include Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, and John Turturro. It is also notably the...
, 1989 - Boyz n the HoodBoyz N the HoodBoyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood film written and directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett and Regina King, the film depicts life in poor South Central Los Angeles, California and was filmed and released...
, 1991 - New Jack CityNew Jack CityNew Jack City is a 1991 crime film starring Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson, and Chris Rock. Snipes stars as Nino Brown, a rising drug dealer and crime lord in New York City during the crack epidemic...
, 1991 - Straight Out of BrooklynStraight Out of BrooklynStraight Out of Brooklyn is an 1991 independent film directed by Matty Rich in his directorial debut. The film is a gritty story about Dennis , an African-American teen living in a housing project with his sister, mother and abusive, alcoholic father...
, 1991 - JuiceJuice (film)Juice is a 1992 American crime drama film that stars rapper Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps. Additional cast members include Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins, Khalil Kain, Samuel L. Jackson, and features cameo appearances by Queen Latifah, EPMD, Special Ed, Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, Flex Alexander, Fab Five...
, 1992 - South CentralSouth Central (film)South Central is a 1992 drama film, written and directed by Stephen Milburn Anderson. This film is an adaptation of the 1987 novel Crips by Donald Bakeer, a former high school teacher in South Central Los Angeles. The film stars Glenn Plummer, Byron Minns, and Christian Coleman. South Central was...
, 1992 - Menace II SocietyMenace II SocietyMenace II Society is a 1993 urban crime drama and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. Menace II Society is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows the life of a hoodlum named Caine Lawson and his close friends. The film gained notoriety for its frequent scenes of...
, 1993 - Poetic Justice, 1993
- StrappedStrappedStrapped is a 1993 television crime-thriller/drama, produced by HBO Films for HBO. It starred, William James Stiggers Jr., Chi Ali and was the debut film of Bokeem Woodbine and rapper Fredro Starr...
, 1993 - Sugar Hill (1994 film) Sugar Hill (1994 film)Sugar Hill is a 1994 American crime film starring Wesley Snipes and Michael Wright as brothers Roemello and Raynathan Skuggs. The film focuses on the two brothers, who are major drug dealers in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.-Plot:...
- Above the RimAbove the RimAbove the Rim is a 1994 drama directed by Jeff Pollack. The screenplay was written by Pollack and journalist-turned-screenwriter Barry Michael Cooper , from a story by Pollack and Benny Medina....
, 1994 - Fresh, 1994
- Jason's LyricJason's LyricJason's Lyric is a 1994 romantic drama film, written by Bobby Smith, Jr., and directed by Doug McHenry. The film marks the directorial debut of McHenry, who co-produced the film with George Jackson...
, 1994 - Clockers, 1995
- Dead PresidentsDead PresidentsDead Presidents is a 1995 American crime film written by Michael Henry Brown and also written, produced and directed by the Hughes brothers , starring Larenz Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker, Freddy Rodriguez, N'Bushe Wright and Bokeem Woodbine...
, 1995 - New Jersey DriveNew Jersey DriveNew Jersey Drive is a 1995 film about black youths in Newark, New Jersey, the official "car theft capital of the world". Their favorite pastime is that of everybody in their neighborhood: stealing cars and joyriding. The trouble starts when they steal a police car and the cops launch a violent...
, 1995 - Set It OffSet It OffSet It Off is a 1996 action and crime film directed by F. Gary Gray, and stars Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise , as four close friends in Los Angeles, California who decide to plan and execute a bank robbery...
, 1996 - One Eight SevenOne Eight SevenMusic from the Motion Picture 187 is the soundtrack to the 1997 film, One Eight Seven. It was released on July 29, 1997 through Atlantic Records and unlike films like Dangerous Minds and The Substitute that dealt with similar subject matter, this soundtrack did not receive an Urban music...
, 1997 - He Got GameHe Got GameHe Got Game is a 1998 American sports-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife...
, 1998 - Caught Up (film) Caught Up (film)Caught Up is a 1998 American crime-drama film written and directed by Darin Scott. The film stars Bokeem Woodbine and Cynda Williams.-Plot:...
- Belly (film)Belly (film)Belly is a 1998 film, the film directorial debut of music video director Hype Williams. Filmed in New York City as an urban drama, the film stars rappers DMX and Nas, alongside with Taral Hicks, Method Man dancehall artist Louie Rankin, R&B singer T-Boz...
, 1998 - In Too Deep (film), 1999
- The WoodThe WoodThe Wood is a 1999 romantic comedy, written by Rick Famuyiwa and Todd Boyd. Famuyiwa also directed the film, which stars Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones, and Taye Diggs.-Plot:...
* Hot Boyz (film)Hot Boyz (film)Hot Boyz is a 1999 film written and directed by Master P. It stars Silkk the Shocker, Snoop Dogg, C-Murder and Mystikal. This film started a brief rivalry between No Limit Records and Cash Money Records as the name "Hot Boyz" was already the name of the popular Trill Fam rap group, which consisted... - Baller Blockin' (film)Baller Blockin' (film)Baller Blockin is a 2000 action and comedy film set in New Orleans 3rd Ward, specifically in and around the Magnolia Projects. A dramatic portrayal of the everyday trials and tribulations that arise on the hometown streets of the Cash Money Millionaires record label, New Orleans, Louisiana...
2000 - Baby BoyBaby Boy (film)Baby Boy is a 2001 American urban drama film written, produced, and directed by John Singleton. It has been considered a sequel of sorts to Singleton's earlier, more famous work Boyz n the Hood released ten years earlier...
, 2001 - Blue Hill AvenueBlue Hill AvenueBlue Hill Avenue is a 2001 crime film directed and written by Craig Ross, Jr., and starring Allen Payne. Ross Jr. also edited and executive produced the film.-Plot:...
* Training DayTraining DayTraining Day is a 2001 crime drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by David Ayer, starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The film follows two LAPD narcotics detectives over a 24-hour period in the gang neighborhoods of South and East Los Angeles.The film was a box office success and...
, 2001 - Empire (2002 film)Empire (2002 film)-Plot:Victor Rosa is a drug dealer in New York who sells a specific brand of heroin called "Empire". His area, or "turf", is located in the South Bronx, where his other rivals all maintain an uneasy truce. They generally respect each other's borders and sanctity...
* 8 Mile, 2002 - State Property (film)State Property (film)State Property is a 2002 American crime film starring Beanie Sigel, Omillio Sparks, Memphis Bleek and Damon Dash. Rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role. It was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment. Abdul Malik Abbott directed the film and co-wrote its screenplay...
- Paid In FullPaid in Full (film)Paid in Full is a 2002 American criminal drama film that was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and directed by Charles Stone III. It takes place in Harlem just before the Crack Epidemic that hit during the 1980s. The title of the film is taken from the 1987 album by Eric B. and Rakim."Paid in Full" is...
, 2002 - The Job (2003 film)
- Never Die AloneNever Die AloneNever Die Alone is a 2004 crime thriller film directed by Ernest R. Dickerson. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Donald Goines.-Plot:...
, 2004 * Coach CarterCoach CarterCoach Carter is a 2005 American film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines in 1999 for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results....
, 2005 - Shooting Gallery (film)Shooting Gallery (film)Shooting Gallery is a 2005 film directed by Keoni Waxman starring Freddie Prinze, Jr.. The plot consists of a young hustler who meets his match in a veteran pool player and small-time gangster ....
* Harsh TimesHarsh TimesHarsh Times is a 2006 American crime film set in South Los Angeles. The film stars Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez, and was written and directed by David Ayer, who wrote the script for the Academy Award-winning film Training Day. The film was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and...
, 2005 - Back in the Day (film)Back in the Day (film)Back in the Day is a 2005 Crime drama starring Ja Rule and Ving Rhames and directed by James Hunter. The film was introduced on May 15, 2004 at the Cannes Film Festival and was released a year later in the U.S.A...
- Bullet BoyBullet BoyBullet Boy is a 2005 film directed by Saul Dibb, written by Saul Dibb and Catherine Johnson, and stars Ashley Walters. The film's original music was composed and performed by Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, who released it as an album...
, 2005 - Four Brothers (film)Four Brothers (film)Four Brothers is a 2005 action crime film directed by John Singleton. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin and Garrett Hedlund. The film was shot in Detroit, Michigan and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
- Get Rich or Die Tryin' (film)
- DirtyDirty (film)Dirty is a 2005 crime–drama film, directed by Chris Fisher. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Clifton Collins, Jr.. The film had a limited release in 2005.-Plot:...
, 2005 - Hustle and Flow, 2005
- ATLATL (film)ATL is a 2006 American drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
, 2006 - Waist DeepWaist DeepWaist Deep is a 2006 drama-action film directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, starring Tyrese Gibson and Meagan Good. It is loosely based on the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, including some similar subplots including the two main characters on the road, trying to avoid police, and committing bank...
, 2006 - Gridiron GangGridiron GangGridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season...
, 2006 - KidulthoodKidulthoodKidulthood is a 2006 British drama film about the life of several teenagers in Ladbroke Grove and Latimer Road area of inner west London. It was directed by Menhaj Huda and written by Noel Clarke, who also stars in the film and directed the sequel, Adulthood...
, 2006 - Freedom WritersFreedom WritersFreedom Writers is a 2007 American drama film starring Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey. It is based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell who wrote the story based on Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach,...
, 2007 - Baby (2008 film)Baby (2008 film)Baby is a 2008 independent film, considered part of the hood film genre. The film tells the story of an Asian-American youth's gang life in East Los Angeles, set during the mid '80s to the early '90s...
, 2008 - Adulthood (film)Adulthood (film)Adulthood is a 2008 British drama film. It was directed and written by Noel Clarke, who also stars as the protagonist, Sam Peel...
, 2008 - Gran Torino (film), 2008
- Fighting (film)Fighting (film)Fighting is a 2009 action drama film directed by Dito Montiel, with a screenplay by Robert Munic and Montiel, and starring Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard and Luis Guzmán. It was released on April 24, 2009 in the United States by Rogue Pictures.-Plot:...
- Before I Self Destruct (film)Before I Self Destruct (film)Before I Self Destruct is a 2009 crime drama film starring Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson that is included with the album of the same name. It was released on November 23, 2009.-Plot:...
- Brooklyn's FinestBrooklyn's FinestBrooklyn's Finest is a 2009 American crime film starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, and Wesley Snipes in his first theatrical film since 2004's Blade: Trinity. The film also stars Will Patton, Ellen Barkin and Vincent D'Onofrio. It is directed by Antoine Fuqua, and written by Michael...
, 2010 - Gun (2010 film)Gun (2010 film)Gun is a 2010 Direct-to-Video action film directed by Jessy Terrero, written by Curtis Jackson starring himself, Val Kilmer and James Remar...
- Ghetto Stories: The Movie 2010
Sources
- "Menace II Society" - Cineaste review pointing out several aspects of the "hood film" genre
- Which Way to the Promised Land?: Spike Lee's Clockers and the Legacy of the African American City, Paula J. Massood, African American Review, Summer 2001
- Lowering the bar: State of black film at the moment, by the Unknown Film Critic; defines hood film as one of three predominant subgenres of African-American film