Gang Tapes (2001)
Directed by Adam Ripp
Written by Adam Ripp
Starring Darris Love, Trivell
Release Date February 1st, 2001
Published October 20th, 2002
It’s been called the movie “they” don’t want you to see. Some have compared it to the Blair Witch Project, for it’s shaky cam style and improvised dialogue. These are merely marketing concoctions that don’t do the film justice. What the film Gang Tapes really is, is the most truthful and shocking look at life in inner city Los Angeles.
As the film begins with vacation footage of some nameless white family, the audience wonders if they are watching the right movie. Then as quickly as the occurs the dread begins as the family on the tape begins to shed light on the situation, they are lost. Suddenly and violently the once happy family is gone, brutally car jacked, their fate unknown. The beginning of Gang Tapes is jarring enough but as the film develops, the shocks continue. The audience is given moments of calm, followed by horror that leads to more shocking realistic violence.
The film is the creation of Adam Ripp, a first time writer-director with more courage than talent. Ripp worked with actual gang members in the making of Gang Tapes, giving them a digital camera and a minimum of storyline to carry forward thru the film. The lone actor in the film is Darris Love whose minor television work is the experience amongst the amazing cast. A young man credited as Trivell is the film's focal point. Kris, a fourteen year old who has grown up worshipping the gang members in his neighborhood, is our eyes and ears behind the camera.
As Kris gets deeper involved in gang life the audience is treated to more and more shocks and sadness. We witness Kris being beat into the gang, a ritual wherein the gang kicks and punches Kris until they feel he is tough enough to be a member. We see Kris and his idol Alonzo (Love) demonstrating how to make rock cocaine. And in the film's most shocking and hard to watch scene, Kris commits his first murder.
Gang Tapes is an amazing film, in style and subject. In style it is a likely unintentional homage to French cinema verite and the European Dogme 95 movement. Indeed Gang Tapes meets most of the requirements of a Dogme film, save for it’s use of weapons and director Adam Ripp being credited as the director. More than likely the style of the film has more to do with budget than obscure European film movements but the similarities are striking if you are a scholar.
In subject Gang Tapes makes every other film of the gang genre seem superficial in comparison.
Much like the best of early 90’s Gangsta Rap, Gang Tapes shines a light on inner city gang activities that many would like to ignore. People such as Los Angeles Congressional Representative Maxine Waters who would rather staple her eyes shut than acknowlege the gang activity that takes place in the very district from which she was elected.
The film could stand for a little more editing and a tighter pace but it is nevertheless challenging, shocking and sad. This is a brilliant and valuable work of art.
