Gang Tapes

When a Midwestern family videotaping their trip to Los Angeles takes a wrong turn into South Central, and has both their car and camcorder stolen, the latter finds its way into the hands of 14-year-old Kris, an aspiring gang member who uses it to chronicle life in the hood. Written and directed by Adam Ripp, Gang Tapes is what COPS would be if the criminals controlled the cameras, and while drive-bys, senseless retaliations, and police indifference are familiar to audiences from more polished efforts by John Singleton and the Hughes brothers, the digital video verité style here gives this film a stunning visceral quality and sense of immediacy. While the cast is comprised of inexperienced actors and neophytes straight out of Compton and Watts, with speech patterns and physicality that feel absolutely authentic--lending Gang Tapes a kind of ghetto Blair Witch Project quality--the filmmakers (Ripp, co-writer Steven Wolfson, and co-producer David Goodman) are, interestingly enough, all white. Although rough around the edges, it's difficult not to be moved by this harrowing and unrelenting portrait of urban life. Recommended. (D. Fienberg)