If you’ve been waiting for a cinematic haymaker that blends 70s exploitation grit with modern martial arts mayhem, RZA has heard your prayers—and he’s bringing a hell of a lot of action with him.
Presented by Quentin Tarantino, the retro-inspired revenge thriller One Spoon of Chocolate is officially set to hit theaters this May via 36 Cinema Distribution and Variance Films. For the purists out there, select engagements will even be screening the film in glorious 35mm.
Don’t Push a Man with a Past
Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) stars as Unique, a military veteran and ex-convict who wants to live a quiet life in a small town. Unfortunately, small towns in movies are rarely “quiet.”
After a run-in with a local gang, Unique begins to notice a disturbing trend: young men in the area are vanishing without a trace—including his own cousin. As he digs into the town’s dirt, he realizes the rot goes all the way to the top. When the local sheriff’s office proves to be more sinister than the street toughs, Unique decides to stop running and start swinging.
The RZA Factor
Written and directed by the Wu-Tang Clan mastermind himself, the film is a love letter to the martial arts and exploitation cinema that defined the “36 Chambers” aesthetic. Produced by Robert Diggs (RZA’s government name) and Paul E. Hall, the movie premiered to buzz at last summer’s Tribeca Festival.
In case you were wondering, you can expect a high-octane experience that earned its R rating for strong violence and gore (The “ice-cold” kind). There’s going to be persistent language. That included racial slurs used to heighten the tension of the small-town conflict. And there are drugs and sexual content. In other words, don’t watch it with your kiddos.
A Stacked Ensemble
Unique isn’t fighting this war alone. The cast features a powerhouse lineup featuring Blair Underwood and Rockmond Dunbar, RJ Cyler (Power Rangers), Paris Jackson, Emyri Crutchfield, and Michael Harney (Orange Is the New Black).
Sweet Revenge
Whether you’re in it for the Tarantino-approved style or the RZA-curated action, One Spoon of Chocolate looks like the high-calorie revenge flick we’ve been craving. See it on May 1—maybe skip the concessions if you have a weak stomach for gore.
