Review of Menace II Society (1993) by Joey V — 30 Mar 2016

Boyz N the Hood was at the time an eye opening look at urban life out on the west coast. After NWA's years of letting us know about street knowledge we began to see the rugged urban lifestyle in Compton in other ways. However people don't realize that Compton isn't the only place with a notorious history, Watts does as well. Menance 2 Society is a no holds barred look at what some might call the gangsta lifestyle out in Watts, CA that was the site of the famous Watts Riots of 1965. Tyrin Turner Larenz Tate and the rest of the cast tell one hell of a tragic story.

Caine Lawson is a young man from Watts who just graduated high school. Caine is also a drug dealer and hangs out with a crew includes his trigger happ best friend O-Dog, A-Wax, and his cousin Harold. Within a span of a few days we witness and urban nightmare as Caine goes through many trials and tribulations and even gets a few opportunities to leave his criminal life behind but in the end there aren't always happy endings in the gangsta life.

Menace 2 society is explosive and slightly more raw than Boyz N the Hood. This is definitely a film that has a slight historical focus from all of the watts riots and just how watts is a turbulent neighborhood like Compton. Overall incredible directing from the Hughes brothers. The writing is phenomenal. A truly well written urban tale.

Larenz tate is veeery good here. he does well playing the kind of individual that caine deep down doesn't want to be but gets unfortunately influenced by to some degree. Tyrin turner was also really solid in his role of caine. caine is a young soul that gets corrupted by all the bad in his life after being given so many chances to get out. It takes so much for him to realize he wants to live. jada pinkett smith was really good here. she was like the one person who almost got through to caine.

The lighting is really underated here and projects to the audience that caine is experiencing a living hell almost. The interrogation scene is without a shadow of doubt the best and most well directed scene in the film. bill duke did a fantastic job in his limited screentime and delivered that "you know you done fucked up" line enough times that he set the tone with that. well produced ending kinda surprised me.

Menance 2 society is a powerful, and tremendous film.