Hip-hop icon RZA returns to the action genre with his fourth directorial effort, “One Spoon of Chocolate,” produced by 36 Cinema. In addition to directing, RZA also wrote the film, drawing inspiration from his own experiences as a teenager in the Buckeye State and from the story of Kendrick Johnson. Since premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, the film has been anxiously awaited by viewers.
After serving his country in the Army, Unique (Shameik Moore) was falsely accused of assault and sent to prison. Now that he has completed his sentence, his parole officer and fellow veteran, Beem (Blair Underwood), is determined to help him succeed. Beem pulls a few strings to allow Unique to set up shop in Ohio and restart his life, reconnecting with his only surviving relative, Ramsey (RJ Cyler).
There’s something insidious happening in this town, though, via its racist sheriff (Michael Harney), his son Jimmy (Harry Goodwins), and his crew of similarly bigoted acolytes. All of whom have a knack for violence and share a gruesome secret about missing young Black men. When they set their sights on Unique and turn his life upside down, the former soldier has no choice but to bring the ruckus down on the sheriff and his goons. Hell hath no fury like a veteran scorned (and armed with a sword).
The film’s poster makes it known that legendary director Quentin Tarantino is a producer on the project. But make no mistake, though, it’s a passion project for the RZA. He begins the film with the murder of a black teen in the town. It’s a great setup as the audience awaits the payoff to arrive. Shameik Moore organically commands the screen as an alpha male who wants to live his life and rebuild.
There are little moments in the film, such as meeting a fellow passenger on a bus who gives him a weapons manual, or finding a bit of peace in his love interest, Darla (Paris Jackson), all of which are equally integral to Unique’s arc. RJ Cyler continues to impress as well in his role of Ramsey. He has a solid fight scene early in the film where he helps his cousin go toe-to-toe with some of Jimmy’s minions.
That said, viewers should know the film isn’t an all-action fest. Sans the fight scene in the first act, things don’t pick up until the third act when Unique wages war on the town. It’s intentional on RZA’s part, though, as he spends the bulk of the film building up Jimmy’s crew for a much-needed beatdown. As the saying goes, violence begets violence, but seeing the racist behavior they have, it’s coming.
“One Spoon of Chocolate” will clearly make some audiences uncomfortable with its gut-punch message. However, as the RZA stated last year at the Tribeca premiere, his mission with the film was to “entertain, provoke, and inspire and on that front, he succeeds.
Final Grade: B +
