MENACE II SOCIETY

ABOUT THE FILM:

Caine is a high school aged gangbanger who wants out of L.A.’s violence, drugs, guns, and death. As a child, Caine witnesses his father kill a man for no good reason and sees his mother die from a drug overdose. Growing up, he takes an older man from the neighborhood on as a mentor only to see him arrested and sent to jail. By high school age, Caine is dealing drugs, and his intimidation skills and nihilistic indifference to the social detriment of his lifestyle have earned him some street cred. MENACE II SOCIETY’S central dilemma: Caine wants out, but is he too far in, too caught up to see the alternatives?

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993, Albert and Allen Hughes’ directorial debut, MENACE II SOCIETY is seemingly yet another hood film arriving after BOYZ N THE HOOD. MENACE II SOCIETY is a view from the other side, however.  More indebted to cinema with fast-paced, MTV-style editing, Hitchcockian camerawork, exacting framing, and expressionistic use of color to mark time and tone, in comparison to other hood films, Caine’s story is about the one who did not get out and the violent, self-destructive appeal and embrace of L.A. gang culture. The film boasts a musical score by Quincy Jones and a cast including Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Khandi Alexander, Vonte Sweet, Too Short, Bill Duke, and Charles Dutton. Grossing a modest $27.9 million, the film also won the Independent Spirit award for Best Cinematography and the MTV Best Movie Award.

FORMAT: 35mm

DISTRIBUTOR: Park Circus

COUNTRY: USA