CharlesBurnett,oneofAmerica'smosthighlyregardedindependentfilmmakers,wroteanddirectedthisdomesticdramaaboutablackmiddle-classfamilylivinginSouthcentralLosAngeles.However,therearenogangs,noguns,nodrugsbutinsteadalyricalstorythatdrawsonfolkloreandthesupernatural.
familytensionsarealreadysimmeringwhenHarry(DannyGlover)arrivestovisithisoldfriends.Heexudesaneasycharm,knowssecretpastandpresentandissooninstalledintheheartofthefamily.However,ashisstaylengthens,sodoeshebegintocastanevenmoremalevolentspell,provokingturmoil,settingsonagainstson,revivingpasthatreds,andinflictingamysteriousillness.
Gloverdeliversacareer-toppingperformanceasthegarrulousfamilyfriend,fullofhiddenmenace,effortlesslyevokingnostalgiaandhorrorinthesamebreath.
Asever,Burnettprovidesawonderfulmusictrackfeaturinggospel,bluesandjazzandacameofromthelegendaryJimmyWeatherspoon.
'Aslow-burning,soul-insinuating,12-barbluesofamovie.'TomCharity,TimeOut
'DannyGloverismarvellous,andterrifying,asacharismaticold-timer.'TheTimes
(fromthedescriptiononthebackcoveroftheDVD)