Menace II Society
| Menace II Society | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | The Hughes Brothers |
| Produced by | Darin Scott |
| Screenplay by | Tyger Williams |
| Story by | Allen Hughes Albert Hughes Tyger Williams |
| Starring | |
| Music by | QDIII |
| Cinematography | Lisa Rinzler |
| Edited by | Christopher Koefoed |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
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Release date
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Running time
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97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.5 million |
| Box office | $27.9 million |
Menace II Society (pronounced Menace to Society) is a 1993 American hood drama thriller film directed by Allen and Albert Hughes in their directorial debut, and starring Tyrin Turner, Jada Pinkett, Larenz Tate and Samuel L. Jackson. The film is set in the 1990s South Central Los Angeles, California. The film follows the life of a young man named Kaydee "Caine" Lawson and his close friends. It gained notoriety for its scenes of violence, profanity, and drug-related content. It was released in May 1993 to critical acclaim for its gritty portrayal of urban violence and its powerful underlying messages.
Caine Lawson and his best friend Kevin Anderson (O-Dog) enter a local store to buy malt liquor, as the Korean storekeeper and his wife eye them suspiciously. As they begin to leave an argument ensues where the shopkeeper makes a remark about O-Dog's mother. Angered by the shopkeeper's remark, O-Dog shoots and kills him and his wife. He then takes the store video surveillance tape and empties the cash register. In a flashback, it is revealed that Caine’s father was a dope dealer who was killed in a drug deal when Caine was ten, and his mother was a heroin addict who later died of an overdose, as a result he went to go live with his grandparents. Later, Caine and his cousin Harold are carjacked and Harold is murdered, with Caine shot. O-Dog informs Caine that he has learned the identity of the carjackers. He and Caine then find the assailants and kill them.
Caine and O-Dog are hired by a local hood Chauncy, for a car insurance scheme but are caught in the process and arrested by police. A detective attempts to link Caine to the store killings by matching fingerprints. Once released Stacy and Sharif want Caine to go to Kansas with them,but Caine refuses and decides to stay, Caine buys a new car from a chop shop and robs a local for his Dayton wheels. Caine then purchases a large quantity of cocaine to cook into crack cocaine in order to sell. Caine begins to enjoy his new hustler life with his crew, meeting a local girl named Ilena. Sharif's father tells Caine to change his ways or he'll end up up dead like his cousin Harold. Caine and Sharif are driving until the police stop and pull them over, The police drags them,beats them and take them to the wrong neighborhood. While in the hospital Caine's friend Ronnie tells him that she has found a job in Atlanta and invites him to come with her. At a party Chauncey makes moves towards Ronnie, Caine pistol whips Chauncey, Stacy and Sharif pull him off Chauncey. While visiting Pernell in prison, Pernell tells Caine to go to Atlanta with Ronnie, Chauncey frustrated about Caine gives the videotape to the police. Later, Caine tells Ronnie that he will accompany her to Atlanta.
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