‘Meet The Blacks’ Review Roundup: ‘The Purge’ Spoof Gets Mixed Reviews

Meet the Blacks, the new movie from filmmaker Deon Taylor, premiered on April Fool’s Day to mixed reviews.

In Meet the Blacks, Carl Black (Mike Epps) moves his family to a Beverly Hills mansion after stealing a large sum of cash and drugs from a Chicago gang leader who winds up in prison. Little do the Blacks know that the first day in their new house happens to be the night of the Purge, meaning their new neighbors – including the preppy Smiths – have license to kill them without punishment.

Meet The Blacks Reviews

Taylor created Meet the Blacks as something of a spoof of The Purge, a mocking horror film in the vein of the Scary Movie franchise. While some found the movie – and the performances therein – successful, other reviewers were left scratching their heads.

“Webb, who is 28 but plays the teen daughter of Carl Black, has a range that zips from Judy Holliday-like ditz to an antic, Kevin Hart-style faux toughie over the course of just one scene. That’s probably not a good indicator of the film’s overall consistency, but considering how ridiculous this movie is, ditching credibility for the higher cause of a laugh at any price is probably the right decision. Meet the Blacks is an asinine film (though with a kernel of seriousness) but whenever it feels like it is running out of steam, something strange and surreal will happen to elevate it above a typical spoof movie.” – Jordan Hoffman, The Guardian

” the movie panics and wrecks its own set-ups. At one point, members of the Ku Klux Klan have (inexplicably) captured Cronut, and Carl decides to don a sheet and infiltrate their ranks. Instead of constructing a funny scene where Mike Epps attempts to impersonate a Klan member, the movie has him stumble into the situation, immediately give himself away, whip off his disguise, and yell stuff. End of scene. Like the movie, it’s a smash-and-grab operation that winds up empty-handed.” – Jesse Hasenger, The A.V. Club

Never in a million years would I have speculated that this would be the work of brilliance that it is. But, by mixing discrimination and a horror plot, the comedy just emanates from the screen. Maybe they stumbled upon this winning formula by accident. Regardless, I say race to the theater for the best comedy I’ve seen in years! APRIL FOOLS!!! Okay, maybe it’s a little better than it looks – but not much. In the end, it comes across as another “Scary Movie” sequel with a different name. There are funny moments. They’re just not worth paying for. “Meet the Blacks” when they come to your television. – Lee O. Smith, New 19

“MEET THE BLACKS is a genre bending spoof of “The Purge” and every horror movie you can think of, all under a fun-filled comedic umbrella. Taylor takes spoofing to new heights thanks to his comedically adept cast. But what is more enamoring is that with the dialogue and comedic notes, this is no holds barred. MEET THE BLACKS is NOT for the faint of heart OR the “politically correct”.” – Debbie Lynn Elias, Santa Monica Observer

In addition to Epps Epps, Meet the Blacks also stars Zulay Henao, Bresha Webb, George Lopez, Gary Owen and Lil Duval, with cameos by the likes of Mike Tyson and Perez Hilton.

Meet the Blacks is currently in theaters.