Gang Tapes Starring Trivell, Darontay McClendon Directed by Adam Ripp Rated R for strong violence, language, drug use and some sexuality *** out of 4 Stars, Movie Grade: B+

Running time: 91 minutes

by Kevin Lang

The film, directed by Adam Ripp, began with a vacationing family being carjacked in urban California by several gangbangers, who not only took the family's minivan but also their camcorder.

The most impressive thing about "Gang Tapes" was that the entire film was believably told through the perspective of the family's stolen video camera. The camera landed in the hands of Kris (Trivell), a fourteen-year-old African American young man who was beginning his downfall into gang life. We go to watch as Kris deepened his attachment to the local gang, led by Alonzo (Darris Love). Kris filmed his first sexual encounter, a robbery, and a drive by shooting that he rode along for, all while his mother seemed unfortunately unaware of his behavior. The camera became part of the story. It wasn't just Kris' perspective. In the end, it was our own as well. Thus, the camera itself was a character, not merely existing just to solely propagate the storyline. This was something that "The Blair Witch Project" (1999) failed to pull off as successfully.

Perhaps just as impressive as the filming technique was the story itself, which offered both a revealing and shocking look at how these young men can become immersed in lives of violence. The viewer saw what Kris saw. I felt as if I was eavesdropping from behind the safety of the camera, only to find this safety net stripped away by the movie's strong sense of realism.

In the end, "Gang Tapes" was a well-made film that offered a perspective that has been used before, but perhaps never so successfully.

"Gang Tapes" Review written December 8, 2002, CTF.

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