Menace II Society 1993

Stephen Holden, New York Times: If Menace II Society is terrific on ambiance, it is considerably less successful in revealing character. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: Don't let the silly styling of the title put you off; this is a powerful, convincing, and terrifying look at teenage crime in contemporary Watts. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Bleak, brilliant, and unsparing: a full-scale vision of the madness that is tearing up the black inner city. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: It won't be a fun time -- at least not in the conventional sense -- but you'll sit through a ninety-seven minute odyssey that won't be quickly forgotten. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Anyone who views this film thoughtfully must ask why our society makes guns easier to obtain and use than does any other country in the civilized world. And that is only the most obvious of the many questions the film inspires. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Regrettably, the Hughes brothers' first feature is a compendium of cliches. Read more

Leonard Klady, Variety: Fierce, violent and searing in its observation, the film makes previous excursions seem like a stroll through the park. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: It's maddening and enlivening. It's brilliant and tacky. It's funny and horrifying. It will gratify the worst elements in the crowd; it will engage the very best. Read more