If 23-year-old John Singleton made a stunning directorial debut with Boyz N the Hood, then what of this film from 20-year-old twin directors The Hughes Brothers? It's not as good as Boyz, but still a remakable first feature, full of venom, passion and raw energy. Some of its directors' work lacks control, and their story is a series of scenes with predictable outcomes but, unlike Caine, their leading character, they surely have a bright furture. Caine (Turner) is a decent sort considering his upbringing with hop-headed parents, but still he sells drugs and runs with the local boyz. After he leaves school, his life soon enters a downward spiral: his running mate O-Dog (Tate) casually kills a Korean shopkeeper over some imagined insult, making Caine an accessory. When his cousin is killed by rival gangsters, Caine seeks and takes revenge. While O-Dog continues his rampage, Caine is offered a route out of the getto via his relationship with Ronnie (Pinkett) and her young son... Fluently told, the film is not for the faint-hearted or easily offened.

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