RZA'S "ONE SPOON OF CHOCLATE" Blends Grindhouse Style with Real-World Horror [Review]

Written by: Lancelot Dodge

This past Thursday, April 22, 2026, I was invited to attend the premiere of director and hip-hop legend RZA’s new revenge crime thriller, "One Spoon of Chocolate", at the Vista Theater in Hollywood, CA. Before the start of the film, RZA came out to talk a little about the project and to thank the cast, crew, and everyone in attendance before rolling the film.

Plot Overview

"One Spoon of Chocolate" follows veteran and ex-con Randy “Unique” Joneson, played by Shameik Moore (Miles Morales in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" trilogy), who is offered early parole and released to a halfway house in New York. Thanks to a sympathetic parole officer, Officer Beem (Blair Underwood), Unique is permitted to transfer his parole to Ohio, where his cousin and only family, Ramsee (RJ Cyler), resides.

Unique is excited to reconnect with Ramsee, but on his first day back, the pair run afoul of Jimmy McLeoud’s (Harry Goodwins) white supremacist gang. A minor scuffle quickly escalates, leading to dire consequences. All Unique wants is to be part of the society he protected during three tours fighting for his country, but after another violent clash with the group of goons, he begins to suspect they’re connected to the disappearances of young Black men in the area, including his cousin. As he searches for answers, he becomes a target not only of the gang but also of the local sheriff’s office, whose role in the vanishings may be even more sinister and disturbing.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE" BELOW

Cast and Performances

"One Spoon of Chocolate" has a strong cast all around. The main lineup features Shameik Moore as Randy “Unique” Joneson, RJ Cyler as Ramsee Joneson, Paris Jackson as Darla, Emyri Crutchfield as Aretha, Blair Underwood as Officer Beem, Michael Harney as Sheriff McLeoud, and Harry Goodwins as Jimmy.

Standout performances come from Shameik Moore as Unique and Harry Goodwins as the absolutely deplorable Jimmy, head of the white supremacist gang. The scenes between Moore and Goodwins are bloody, brutal, and intense, delivering some of the film’s most hard-hitting moments.

The film also features a killer score by composer Tyler Bates (John Wick 1–4, X, Pearl, Creepshow, Watchmen), alongside contributions from RZA himself (Wu-Tang Clan, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2).

Style and Direction

RZA once again shows his talent in his latest work, pulling inspiration and influence from other films, including a great Quentin Tarantino cinematic universe Easter egg, along with real-life situations woven into "One Spoon of Chocolate". The film is a stylized, grindhouse-inspired revenge epic, blending elements of action, blaxploitation, kung fu, satire, and real-world commentary throughout.

With a running time of one hour and fifty-two minutes, the film moves at a steady pace, only slowing to build tension and keep viewers on the edge of their seats. In some instances, it leans into heavy feelings of unease and discomfort, forcing you to really feel and recognize the horrors Unique is fighting against.

Post-Screening Q&A

After the film finished, RZA returned to the stage for a short Q&A with Sway Calloway, discussing the film and answering questions about its influences and inspirations. RZA spoke about how the film is meant to leave viewers with an uncomfortable feeling, reflecting real-world issues that mirror what unfolds on screen.

He also touched on his influences, ranging from Quentin Tarantino to John Carpenter, particularly in how certain scenes were crafted to build dread.

After the Q&A, I was lucky enough to meet RZA and some of the cast and grab a photo with them.

(Director RZA with TrulyDisturbing Writer Lancelot Dodge)

(Star Shameik Moore (Unique) and TrulyDisturbing Writer Lancelot Dodge)

(Star Emyri Crutchfield ( Aretha ) With TrulyDisturbing Writer Lancelot Dodge)

(Star Harry Goodwins ( Jimmy McLeoud ) and TrulyDisturbing Writer Lancelot Dodge)

"One Spoon of Chocolate" hits theaters on May 1, with early showings on April 30. Make sure to check it out.