Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Vampires

‘Night Patrol’ Exclusive Interview: Justin Long
Justin Long in ‘Night Patrol’. Photo: RLJE Films/Shudder.

Opening in theaters on January 16th is the new horror thriller ‘Night Patrol’, which was directed by Ryan Prows (‘V/H/S/94‘), and stars Justin Long (‘Live Free or Die Hard’ and ‘Weapons’), Jermaine Fowler (‘Coming 2 America’), RJ Cyler (‘The Harder They Fall’), Flying Lotus (‘Ash’), Phil Brooks (‘Zootopia 2’), and Dermot Mulroney (‘Scream VI’).
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Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Justin Long about his work on ‘Night Patrol’, his first reaction to the screenplay and its twist on the vampire genre, his research into playing a cop, and working with the ensemble cast.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Weapons’

(L to R) Justin Long and Jermaine Fowler in ‘Night Patrol’. Photo: RLJE Films/Shudder.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and its spin on the vampire genre?

Justin Long: I was directing this movie called ‘Fur Babies’, which was a segment in ‘V/H/S/Beyond’. Josh Goldbloom was our producer, and he was just great. I love talking to him about movies and I was asking him what he had going on. He mentioned the script and he had mentioned it as something he was going to do next, something he had been working on for a long time. I thought it was such a wild premise and I loved hearing him talk about it. They had another actor who was attached to it at the time. I thought, “Oh, that’s perfect for that actor.” I don’t want to say who it is. Nothing scandalous happened, he just had a scheduling thing that he had to drop out to do this other project. So, Josh came to me at the last minute and said, “Hey, remember that movie that I was talking to you about?” I said, of course. Then I met with Ryan Prows, the director, and I saw his movie ‘Lowlife’, which I loved. I was amazed at what he could do with that size budget. That’s how I thought maybe this is the thing that they could pull off. I love taking wild swings anyway. But, when he came to me about it, I thought, he’s just desperate. I’m not right for this character. It kind of scared me a little bit. I balked at it because on paper I’m not at all right for it. The guy who was going to play it was perfect for it. But that’s what it’s all about, taking a risk and swinging for the fences. So, I did what I could do to get ready physically. I just found a truth that I could connect to in stuff that I had gone through with my own family and people that I was close to. So, it was a fun, cathartic challenge.

Jermaine Fowler in ‘Night Patrol’. Photo: RLJE Films/Shudder.

MF: I know there is a supernatural element to the film, but what kind of research did you do to prepare for playing a police officer?

JL: We did a little bit. Jermaine and I didn’t have much time, but the cops who were working on the movie were gracious with their time and they helped us with the everyday stuff. Like, how do you get out of a car? What’s the protocol for just approaching the stuff that they probably learned in the first day or two of basic training. They were able to make it look like we could fake it properly. So, they were very helpful. I know that the director and some of the actors who were playing the Bloods, they had some real involvement from gang members. There was a consultant on the movie who runs a program in LA where they try to mend fences between these gangs and try and help with rehabilitation after people get out of gangs, and there is some crossover with the LAPD. So, this program, they were actively involved in the movie and so that helped, and we had approval from actual gang members that the director was in touch with, and they were an active part of the movie. I mean, it was it was quite intense.

Dermot Mulroney in ‘Night Patrol’. Photo: RLJE Films/Shudder.

MF: Finally, what was it like working with the cast, including Jermaine Fowler and Dermot Mulroney?

JL: Well, I also loved Freddie Gibbs. Freddie Gibbs has such a great voice, and he kind of stole the show at the table read. I was like, who is this guy? Then I started listening to his music and he’s just a poet, but he’s also a dynamic performer. I don’t know how else to say. He’s got a cool voice, he’s just great. And I love Flying Lotus as a person and as a director. But Jermaine, I’ve always really liked Jermaine’s work. I didn’t really know him before this, and I didn’t really know what to expect. It was just luck that we happen to really connect. I just love being around him. In between takes, I loved hanging out with him. He’s got an encyclopedic knowledge of movies, especially comedies. We really hit it off. We bonded over old ‘70s and ‘80s comedies. We want to make one together. He sent me a script he wrote, which, I think is brilliant. So, we’re trying to make that. We just really hit it off. We talked a lot about how much we loved Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder movie, and he’s just a great guy. So, that came very naturally. Once we were in that cop car, it was just two buddies and it made it easier for me because the only challenge was playing a more silent type in the movie. My character is much more reserved and he’s somebody who’s internalized a lot, and that’s not naturally who I am. So, I’m not playing around with Jermaine in the scene. Most of our stuff together is him trying to get under my skin and him trying to punch me, so I couldn’t really play back the way I wanted to do. I should say, I love getting to work with people that I grew up watching, and who inspired me to want to be an actor. Dermot Mulroney was in all those movies, and I was a huge ‘Young Guns’ fan. Just getting to hear stories about that movie specifically, and all his other work, I mean, he’s been at it for so long and he’s always so good and so believable. But he was very kind with both me and Jermaine to share stories. So, to me, getting to work with people like that is one of the great highlights of this job.

Phil Brooks in ‘Night Patrol’. Photo: RLJE Films/Shudder.

What is the plot of ‘Night Patrol’?

An L.A. cop (Jermaine Fowler) discovers a local task force is hiding a secret that puts the residents of his childhood neighborhood in danger.

Who is in the cast of ‘Night Patrol’?
- Jermaine Fowler as Xavier Carr
- Justin Long as Ethan Hawkins
- Dermot Mulroney as Sarge
- Freddie Gibbs as Bomelius
- Phil Brooks as Deputy
- RJ Cyler as Wazi Carr
- Nicki Micheaux as Ayanda
- Flying Lotus as Three Deuce
‘Night Patrol’ opens in theaters on January 16th.

List of Justin Long Movies:
- ‘Galaxy Quest‘ (1999)
- ‘Jeepers Creepers‘ (2001)
- ‘Crossroads‘ (2002)
- ‘DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story‘ (2004)
- ‘Herbie Fully Loaded‘ (2005)
- ‘The Break-Up‘ (2006)
- ‘Accepted‘ (2006)
- ‘Idiocracy‘ (2006)
- ‘Live Free or Die Hard‘ (2007)
- ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks‘ (2007)
- ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno‘ (2008)
- ‘He’s Just Not That Into You‘ (2009)
- ‘Drag Me to Hell‘ (2009)
- ‘Tusk‘ (2014)
- ‘House of Darkness‘ (2022)
- ‘Barbarian‘ (2022)
- ‘The 4:30 Movie‘ (2024)
- ‘Weapons‘ (2025)
- ‘Night Patrol‘ (2026)
Buy Tickets: ‘Night Patrol’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Justin Long Movies on Amazon
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January 14, 2026
‘Sinners’ Interview: Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan
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Currently available to watch on HBO Max and a serious contender in this upcoming awards season is the box office smash hit ‘Sinners’ which was written and directed by Ryan Coogler (‘Black Panther’) and stars Michael B. Jordan (‘Creed’) playing the dual roles of twin brothers Smoke and Stack.
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Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan to talk about their work on ‘Sinners’, why Coogler was passionate about making this movie and the themes he wanted to explore, while Jordan discussed his approach to playing the Moore brothers and how he made the two roles distinctively different.

(L to R) Director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan talk ‘Sinners’.

You can watch the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Sinners’

(L to R) Delroy Lindo, Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler in Warner Bros. Pictures’ Sinners’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Moviefone: To begin with, Ryan, can you talk about why you were so passionate about making this movie and the themes you wanted to explore as a filmmaker?

Ryan Coogler: It started with my relationship with my uncle James, who was born in Mississippi, lived there until he was 20, and then moved to Oakland and married my great-aunt, Sammy Lee, who the character Sammy is named after. It was important for me to explore blues music, Mississippi, the Delta Blues and juke joint culture because it was so important to my uncle. It’s kind of passed down to me, and I wanted to do a deep dive on why that music was so important really to a global popular culture. But I also wanted to infuse it with everything in cinema that I loved that I hadn’t had a chance to do yet in my previous films. That’s where the supernatural and the genre elements come to play. As far as the themes, the biggest theme was freedom. You know what I mean? This idea of it, how elusive it can be, how sometimes it can’t be bought. That was the central concept of freedom in these people that are under such great oppression and having to be able to affirm that humanity in a place and a time when it was very difficult.

Michael B. Jordan as Smoke and Stack in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Sinners,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Finally, Michael, can you talk about the challenges of playing twin brothers and how you were able to make those two characters so distinctively different?

Michael B. Jordan: There were so many challenges. There’s been versions of twins that have been done, and some better than others, and trying to figure out how to make this one a memorable one or just make it work and feel honest. I remember as a kid watching movies like ‘The Parent Trap’, you know what I’m saying? Just as a kid, your imagination, whether you’re pretending you got superpowers or pretending this or whatever, the idea of like, man, if I had a twin, what would I do? Or how would that be? I think being able to imagine that because Smoke and Stack are the same, but they’re completely different. They make up one person. Having Smoke and how he handles his childhood trauma was important and Stack and how he handles his childhood trauma. They had the same experiences, but they have two different perspectives on it. For Smoke, he internalizes a lot of his. He doesn’t talk a lot. He doesn’t want to talk about his pain. He wants to bury it deep and kind of hold onto to that. I know people like that. So, to be able to tap into that in a real way. But Stack is different. He smiles and uses his charm, and he talks his way through his pain because he can’t dwell on it for too long. So, to tap into your childhood trauma and building those characters from the ground up was crucial to build that foundation for me to do the rest of the work and the other things, the layers on top of that like wearing a shoe that is too small for Stack because he’s always moving around. He just never really standing still. As a performer, as an actor, it’s something that I didn’t have to think about, but it helped me be agitated in times and physically be not still. But also, I wore a size too big when it came to Smoke because I wanted him to feel like he couldn’t move a lot and he wanted to be rooted and implanted into the ground. So those were layers to it. The different grill caps that I wore, when I had a certain gold front in, it changed the way I would hold my mouth and speak and my cadence. Smoke spoke few words and slow. Stack was a fast talker, so he was always smiling, always wheeling and always dealing. He’s always selling something. Those are some of the things that I tapped into to kind of help make them a bit different. Just the storytelling, the other characters around Smoke and Stack that allowed me to play off of with Annie and Mary and those dynamics and just a rich world that was created for these characters to blend into.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Sinners,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What is the plot of ‘Sinners’?

Two brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1932, now wealthy and intent on opening a juke joint in their hometown. But as they open the doors of their new establishment, sinister forces begin to converge upon them and their community.

Who is in the cast of ‘Sinners’?
- Michael B. Jordan as Smoke and Stack Moore
- Hailee Steinfeld as Mary
- Miles Caton as Sam Moore
- Jack O’Connell as Remmick
- Wunmi Mosaku as Annie
- Jayme Lawson as Pearline
- Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread
- Li Jun Li as Grace Chow
- Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim
(L to R) Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Sinners’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Eli Adé. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ryan Coogler Movies:
- ‘Fruitvale Station‘ (2013)
- ‘Creed‘ (2015)
- ‘Black Panther‘ (2018)
- ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘ (2022)
- ‘Sinners‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘Sinners’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Ryan Coogler Movies On Amazon
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November 24, 2025
Movie Review: ‘Abigail’
Alisha Weir as Abigail in ‘Abigail,’ directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Photo: Universal Pictures.

In theaters on Friday, April 19th, ‘Abigail’ finds Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, directors of ‘Ready or Not’ and the two most recent ‘Scream’ movies.

Here, freed from the constrictions of working within a franchise framework, they get back to their roots for a funny, bloody tale of kidnappers who target the wrong person with violent results.

Related Article: Corey Hawkins Talks ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ and Director André Øvredal

Does ‘Abigail’ Draw Entertaining Blood?

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Are you a hemophobe? In that case, you should probably avoid ‘Abigail’, since it features more blood on screen than the original ‘Carrie’. There are buckets of the red stuff, whether from someone vomiting it up, a pit of bodies floating in it, or… well, the last one would be a spoiler.

Truth be told, though, we doubt anyone with that condition would be happily sitting down for a horror movie anyway, since they usually tend to include plenty of blood. And there is much more to recommend ‘Abigail’ beyond all of that, plenty of positives rather than just the B-positive.

Because this latest offering from the Radio Silence team is a funny, violent, crazy and occasionally audacious terror offering.

Script and Direction

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

While the script originated with Stephen Shields, who came up with the basic concept and many of the fun ideas littering the story, it has since been through the hands of regular Radio Silence scriptwriter Guy Busick, who has worked with the directors on movies such as ‘Ready or Not’ and the two ‘Scream’ entries they made.

It’s the latter to which ‘Abigail’ feels more closely aligned –– like that thriller, which sees a young woman marrying into a wealthy family who discovers that new additions are challenged to a lethal game that finds her running for her life through a creepy mansion with the armed, privileged spawn tracking her down.

Here, the focus is on a group of criminals who kidnap a young girl, looking to squeeze her rich father for a ransom, only to discover that she is most definitely not what she appears. It’s given away in all the marketing and the trailer, so we’re really not spoiling anything here: she’s a vampire, and the criminals have all been lured to the creepy mansion she shares with her father to serve as her latest playthings/snack food.

(From left) Dan Stevens, director Tyler Gillett, Melissa Barrera and director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin on the set of ‘Abigail.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

The script is light on its feet, completely understanding that this is a fun, pulpy B-movie with the scares and the laughs perfectly calibrated. The criminal crew, all brought to life by an engaging gang of accomplished actors (more on them below), bicker and spar amusingly, and when they started to be picked off one by one, you’re actually engaged in their fate (even if you’re happy for most of them to meet a bloody end).

On the directing front, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett know exactly how to pull of something like this –– ‘Ready or Not’ certainly proved it. They pitch the tone perfectly, dialing up the madness when needed and slowing things down to let the movie breathe. There are moments when it starts to lull, and those are issues (such as one or two moments where the survival of one of the characters stretches credulity), but those are few and far between.

‘Abigail’: Performances

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

The Radio Silence team has a knack for casting, and ‘Abigail’ is no exception.

First off, we have the title character herself. Alisha Weir is best known (so far –– this young actor surely has a bright future ahead) as the main character in ‘Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical’, but here she throws herself into the unhinged, creepy character of an ancient, undead creature who just happens to look like an innocent young girl. She’s a delight, able to pivot on a whim between seeming scared and cunningly tracking down her prey.

It doesn’t hurt that Abigail loves to dance, channeling Weir’s own dance training for funny/scary sequences where she’s on the hunt for a victim. There are shades of M3GAN’s dance stylings here.

Melissa Barrera, one of the stars of the most recent two ‘Scream’ movies, is similarly superb as “Joey” (the criminal crew adopts the names of the Sinatra Rat Pack so as not to learn each other’s real monikers in case they are nabbed by the authorities, which turns out to be the least of their worries). She’s the heart of the film, and the emotional core you actually want to have survive.

As for the rest? They’re different levels of cannon (or vampire) fodder, though all are well developed and well played.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Dan Stevens (Frank) gives off great grubby charm as a former cop who has turned to crime, all sarcastic asides and impatient attitude. Stevens is always watchable whether he’s being an absolute asshole or running for his life.

Kathryn Newton, as Sammy, is all kooky former-rich-girl-turned-hacker bubbliness, which soon turns to terror (and then something else). She really delivers on all those levels.

Kevin Durand is the hulking, less-than-smart Peter, who is the brawn of the group. He works perfectly in the role, the ideal balance of tough and vulnerable.

William Catlett is studied intensity as the former military man who is given the name “Rickles” (there’s a reason for that we won’t spoil) and doesn’t trust the others. Catlett brings energy and verve to the role even given the character’s gruff demeanor.

Finally, we have ‘Euphoria’s Angus Cloud as Dean, the actor (who died after filming the movie, and is memorialized in the end credits) making his slacker character his own, even if it’s a smaller role.

‘Abigail’: Final Thoughts

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

‘Abigail’ is a finely-tuned horror comedy that manages to do both well. The bickering team dynamic works and the vampire element is fantastic.

And, as we mentioned before, it’s a bloody good time at the movies.

‘Abigail’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Abigail’?

After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight.

In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

Who is in ‘Abigail’?
- Melissa Barrera as Joey
- Dan Stevens as Frank
- Kathryn Newton as Sammy
- William Catlett as Rickles
- Kevin Durand as Peter
- Angus Cloud as Dean
- Alisha Weir as Abigail
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Abigail:’
- ‘Dracula‘ (1931)
- ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula‘ (1992)
- ‘Interview with the Vampire‘ (1994)
- ‘Blade II‘ (2002)
- ‘Twilight‘ (2008)
- ‘Let Me In‘ (2010)
- ‘Dracula Untold‘ (2014)
- ‘Bones and All‘ (2022)
- ‘Morbius‘ (2022)
- ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter‘ (2023)
- ‘Renfield‘ (2023)
Buy Vampire Movies on Amazon
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April 20, 2024
Nic Pizzolatto Re-Writing Marvel’s ‘Blade’
Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade.’

On the big screen, we’ll be expecting to see ‘Blade‘ deal with the threat of vampires. But to get there, at least as part of the MCU, the character has had to deal with something far trickier ––development issues.

Despite all the excitement over the announcement that Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would play the character during Marvel’s 2019 Comic-Con panel, the progress has been slow.

‘Mogul Mowgli’ director Bassam Tariq was hired to make the movie, only to depart over scheduling issues –– and given a shift in writers to Michael Starrbury, also seemed to indicate problems with the script.

‘White Boy Rick’s Yann Demage came aboard in November last year, but writing-wise, there is, according to The Hollywood Reporter, another change in the cards on the script front. ‘True Detective’ creator Nic Pizzolatto has been working on a draft based on Starrbury’s for a few weeks now.

He’s writing as quickly as possible, as the movie is scheduled to shoot at the end of this month in Atlanta.
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‘True Detective’ reunion

Pizzolatto’s presence does indeed mark a ‘True Detective’ reunion, since Ali starred as Detective Wayne Hays in the third season of the anthology show (a fourth, starring Jodie Foster is on the way this year, but no longer involves Pizzolatto as showrunner.)

Mahershala Ali in HBO’s ‘True Detective’ Season 3.

Where does Blade fit into the comics?

Originally crafted by Gene Colan and Marv Wolfman as a human who was immune to vampire bites, he was later changed to Eric Cross Brooks, whose mother is murdered by the bloodsucker Deacon Frost as she gives birth. The attack passes on vampire enzymes to her child, who becomes a Dhampir – a mix of both human and vampire.

Gifted with speed, strength, and the ability to walk in the daylight (hence his other name, the Daywalker), his mission is to hunt down and destroy vampires. In his time, he’s crossed paths with many notable Marvel characters in the comics, including Spider-Man and the Avengers. He’s also battled living vampire Morbius, who had his own movie out earlier this year, starring Jared Leto.

Yet Blade is probably most famous for the trilogy of movies released by New Line in 1998, 2002 and 2004, starring Wesley Snipes as the gruff, sword-swinging character.

The MCU version’s story is still so far, a mystery: whether it’ll deal with Blade’s origins is unknown for now, but we can expect plenty of vampire-killing action.

Blade from Marvel Comics. Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.

Related Article: Marvel’s Blade: Mia Goth joins the MCU’s take on the Daywalker’s Vampire Story

Who else is in the new movie?

Around Ali, Team Marvel has cast the likes of Delroy Lindo, ‘The Underground Railroad’s Aaron Pierre and, more recently, Mia Goth, star of ‘X’, ‘Pearl’ and ‘Infinity Pool’.

Assuming no more interruptions or major changes, Marvel is aiming to have ‘Blade’ in theaters on September 6th next year.

Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Blade:’
- ‘Dracula‘ (1931)
- ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula‘ (1992)
- ‘Interview with the Vampire‘ (1994)
- ‘Blade‘ (1998)
- ‘Blade II‘ (2002)
- ‘Blade: Trinity‘ (2004)
- ‘Dracula Untold‘ (2014)
- ‘Eternals‘ (2021)
- ‘Morbius‘ (2022)
Buy ‘Blade’ Movies on Amazon

‘Blade’ is produced by Marvel Studios, and Kevin Feige Productions. It is scheduled to release in theaters on September 6th, 2024.
May 3, 2023
Movie Review: ‘Day Shift’

(L-R) Jamie Foxx as Bud and Snoop Dogg as Big John in ‘Day Shift.’ Cr. Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2022.

‘Day Shift,’ which debuted on Netflix August 12th is the sort of movie that the streaming service seems to drop almost out of nowhere – which is surprising given the star power of Jamie Foxx. One trailer and then here we are.

It certainly hasn’t been treated to the same sort of rollout as, say, ‘The Gray Man’, but then ‘Day Shift’ didn’t cost $200 million to make. But that’s no slight on the new vampire hunting movie, which generates plenty of goofy action fun without needing to trot around the globe or blow up everything in sight.

Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, who makes his living cleaning pools in the San Fernando Valley. At least, that’s what he tells his family. His real job is tracking down and dispatching vampires.

In the movie’s mythology, the toothy terrors have existed for millennia alongside humans and, back in the day, were worshipped as gods (a temple under Los Angeles plays a role later in the plot).

Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewid/Netflix.

Yet as time marched on, humanity began to realize that the genetic mutations were actually more of a threat than a religion and turned on them. Since then, there has been an understanding – vampires prey in darkness and those still among the fully living have organized to hunt them.

Bud used to be among those ranks, a fully paid-up member of the union that authorizes gun- and stake-toting fighters to execute vampires, claiming their fangs as evidence for payout. The older the Drac-pack member, the bigger the cash reward. But thanks to some “violations” (violently killing a vampire in a house with a kids’ party happening next door), he’s been on the outs for years.

Yet when his estranged wife Jocelyn (Meagan Good) announces she’s taking their daughter Paige (Zion Broadnax) to Florida for a new financial opportunity, Bud knows he’ll need to start earning more to prevent that happening.

Oh yes, and there’s an ambitious vampire (Karla Souza’s Audrey San Fernando) looking to take over the Valley’s undead action, and who is first glimpsed burying a rival “alive” in the freshly poured foundations of a house.

(L-R) Snoop Dogg as Big John Elliott, Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski and Seeger in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2022.

Bud will need to call on the help of old pal – and legendary vampire hunter – Big John Elliott (a typically chill Snoop Dogg) to get himself official again. And that comes with big condition… Bud will have to put up with union clerk Seth (Dave Franco) monitoring his missions.

More normally used to spending his time behind a desk, and with little inclination to do anything else, Seth soon grows more useful, but it’s not an easy match at first, since Seth’s all about following the rules and Bud is, as anyone could guess… not.

That’s a familiar dynamic for a movie such as this, and writers Tyler Tice (this is his first produced script) and Shay Hatten (‘Army of the Dead’) don’t bring too much that is fresh to the mismatched buddy cop formula. Yet Foxx and Franco find a vibe that works.

Whether it’s Seth peeing his pants in initial fear at confronting a vampire in the field or the pair arguing about ‘Twilight’ movies, they’re often the funniest part of the movie.

(L to R) Jamie Foxx as Bud, Scott Adkins as Diran, Steve Howey as Mike and Dave Franco as Seth in ‘Day Shift.’ Cr. Netflix © 2022.

Director J.J. Perry is a graduate of the 87Eleven school of stunt work. Training with the likes of David Leitch and Chad Stahelski and working as a stuntman then a stunt coordinator, he’s since moved up to second unit work and makes his full directorial debut with ‘Day Shift.’

It’s perhaps no surprise then, that besides the cast, the set-pieces are the star here. From an initial rumble between Foxx’s Bud and an old woman who turns out to be both A) undead and B) a key part of the plot going forward to the various clashes between humans and the fang club, this is an all-action romp.

Perry and cinematographer Tobi Oliver know how to stage and shoot an effective fight scene, and they make good use of some talented stunt folk to bring those moments to life. Whether it’s a battle in an abandoned mall (highlighted by Snoop’s Big John arriving with a hulking minigun called “Big Bertha” and laying waste to many enemies) or a match-up between three vampires, the conflicts go for the jugular even more than the villains.

There is, perhaps, an occasional leaning too hard on one specific move (clambering over someone’s head and flipping them, as Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow often used to do in Marvel movies), but otherwise the stunt work is lean and entertaining.

(L to R) Dave Franco as Seth and Jamie Foxx as Bud in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2022.

When the jokes are as sharp as the vampire’s teeth, the movie truly entertains, but that doesn’t happen enough to carry the rest of what shapes up to be a fairly standard example of the genre. There are lots of elements here pulled from the shelf that are rarely customized to the degree that they seem fresh.

A big, nasty vampire plan? Seen it. The hero’s family in danger? Yup. A grungy dealer in vampire death payouts who keeps a hidden base behind a mundane pawn shop front – and who ends up a victim? Present. And even though he’s played by Peter Stormare, it doesn’t quite raise the level up above average.

Netflix has been on a run of vampire stories of late – between the likes of ‘Night Teeth’ and the YA-centric ‘First Kill’, the streaming service can’t get enough of the fanged ones and/or the people who slay them. ‘Day Shift’ ranks more highly than some, mostly thanks to Foxx’s charisma, Franco’s throwing himself into the comedy, and the stunt work.

If you’re craving some fang club action and you haven’t had your bloodlust slated by the many vampire movies already out there in the world, ‘Day Shift’ offers a solid bite even if it’s not the greatest example of the genre.

‘Day Shift receives 3 out of 5 stars.

(L to R) Jamie Foxx as Bud and Dave Franco as Seth in ‘Day Shift.’ Cr. Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2022.
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August 15, 2022
‘Day Shift’ Trailer Has Jamie Foxx Hunting Vampires

Netflix has certainly tapped into the vampire vein as one of its prime source materials for movies and TV shows, including recent examples such as ‘First Kill’ and ‘Night Teeth’.

The company is upping the star power for its latest example, as the likes of Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dog, Dave Franco and more are part of the cast of ‘Day Shift’.

Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, a man whose unassuming day job as a San Fernando Valley pool cleaner is a cover for how he really makes money – in a world where vampires are everywhere (and are mostly monstrous murderers), there’s cash to be had “cutting necks and cashing checks”, as Bud explains.

Yet with a few “incidents” on his record, Bud has been drummed out of the international Union of Vampire Hunters, and now he’s facing the prospect of his wife (Meagan Good) and daughter (Zion Broadnax) moving to Florida for a better life.

With the help of his pal and fellow hunter (Snoop Dogg), Bud has to wrangle his way back into the union to keep the cash flow going, and make sure he saves his own neck. Mostly, though, the story looks like an excuse for lots of crazy vamp action.

Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewid/Netflix.

Not to mention Dave Franco as a guy who has his first vampire encounter and reacts… well, how you might expect. And, of course, there are jokes about other vampire fiction, including the ‘Twilight’ movies.

This new movie is directed by J.J. Perry, who has cut his teeth as a stuntman, stunt coordinator and second unit director on big titles such as ‘John Wick’ and more than one ‘Fast & Furious’ movie. And the ‘Wick’ connection continues thanks to co-writer Shay Hatten (a veteran of a couple of those movies, plus a lot of work with Zack Snyder, including ‘Army of the Dead’ and the upcoming ‘Rebel Moon’.)

Then we have Chad Stahelski, who has co-directed or directed all the ‘Wick’ movies so far and serves as a producer here. It’s perhaps not surprising that the trailer makes ‘Day Shift’ look chock full of inventive action moments.

And the horror aspect means plenty of crazy vampire moments – the creatures here have a twisty-limbed style that would probably put a smile on the face of fans of the work of John Carpenter or ‘Train to Busan’.

With Bud finding all manner of ways to put an end to undead creatures, we can also expect lots of inventive kills, while Snoop shows up at one point touting a minigun to kill as many vamps as possible.

Featuring Karla Souza, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Scott Adkins, Steve Howery, Tetiana Gaidar, Massi Furlan and Gloria Bishop in the cast, ‘Day Shift’ will arrive on Netflix on August 12th.

(L-R) Snoop Dogg as Big John Elliott, Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski and Seeger in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2022.
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July 11, 2022
Marvel’s ‘Blade’ Adds Aaron Pierre

Aaron Pierre in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Underground Railroad.’

Though Marvel Studios and Disney are – as expected – keeping most of the details locked in a coffin somewhere, we are at least starting to learn about who will be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Blade’ movie alongside star Mahershala Ali. The latest addition is Aaron Pierre.

‘Blade’, which was announced as a surprise at the tail end of Marvel’s 2019 panel at the San Diego Comic-Con represents the MCU bringing the half-human, half-vampire warrior into its fold. Ali has, though, already popped up for a vocal cameo during one of ‘Eternals’ end credits sequences.

Blade, created for Marvel Comics by writer Marv Wolfman and penciller Gene Colan, first appeared as a supporting character in ‘The Tomb of Dracula #10’, published July 1973. He was popular enough to merit his own solo storylines and was particularly memorable during the 1990s.

Originally crafted as a human who was immune to vampire bites, he was later changed to Eric Cross Brooks, whose mother is murdered by the bloodsucker Deacon Frost as she gives birth. The attack passes on vampire enzymes to her child, who becomes a Dhampir – a mix of both human and vampire.

Gifted with speed, strength, and the ability to walk in the daylight (hence his other name, the Daywalker), his mission is to hunt down and destroy vampires. In his time, he’s crossed paths with many notable Marvel characters in the comics, including Spider-Man and the Avengers. He’s also battled living vampire ‘Morbius,’ who has his own movie due from Sony on April 1, starring Jared Leto.

Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade.’

Yet ‘Blade‘ is probably most famous for the trilogy of movies released by New Line in 1998, 2002 and 2004, starring Wesley Snipes as the gruff, sword-swinging character. While ‘Blade II’, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is regarded as the best of the three, the original does boast this endlessly quotable line. Snipes has become identified with the character, and even cameoed as him via Skype in an episode of vampire comedy series ‘What We Do in the Shadows’.

While some fans had campaigned for Snipes to stay on in the role, Marvel Studios has traditionally gone in a new route with its casting for characters played by other actors. Though given the multiverse use in recent Marvel movies, there’s always the chance he could be back in the future.

With two-time Oscar winner Ali as Blade, we also know that Delroy Lindo has a role in the new movie, though his character is still a secret for now. Likewise, Pierre, whose casting was reported by Deadline, is a mystery.

The actor is probably best known to date for playing rapper (and worried beachgoer) Mid-Size Sedan in M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Old’ but has also worked on TV series including ‘Krypton’ and ‘The Underground Railroad’ created by writer/director Barry Jenkins. Pierre will reunite with the filmmaker to voice a young Mustafa in the ‘Lion King’ prequel movie. He’s also part of the cast for Garth Davies’ sci-fi movie ‘Foe’.

‘Blade’, which has ‘Mogul Mowgli’ director Bassam Tariq preparing to call the shots and ‘Watchmen’ TV veteran Stacy Osei-Kuffour writing the script, has yet to reveal a release date, though it may well emerge next year.
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February 24, 2022