By JESS BLACK
Starring Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long and Freddie Gibbs
Written by Shaye Ogbonna, Ryan Prows, Tim Cairo and Jake Gibson
Directed by Ryan Prows
RLJE Films/Shudder
A poignant and sad reflection on police brutality and institutional violence, Ryan Prows’ NIGHT PATROL is a confident, stylish vampire flick full of great performances. It bounces between high-octane action, character moments, and a fresh look at modern vampire lore. Unfortunately, there are a few structural oddities that make it less than perfect.
Let’s start with the performances. When it comes to horror, I’m a fairly low-stakes girl. (Sorry for the vampire pun.) I don’t always need great performances, but there are some standouts that really bring the storytelling to another level. RJ Cyler shines as the film’s lead, while Jermaine Fowler and Justin Long deliver convincing buddy cop dialogue for the movie’s first half. With subject matter this powerful, it’s good to see the leads treating it with the appropriate seriousness.
As for the villainous NIGHT PATROL henchmen, it’s nice to see Phil “CM Punk” Brooks have a significant amount of screen time. Although his campier performance seems inevitable, given his professional wrestling background, it creates a convincing monster against which the forces of good must fight, and he obviously relishes the plethora of nasty one-liners and acts of cruelty he gets to mete out. Dermot Mulroney also makes a great alpha boss, but it’s a shame we get to see so little of him. His quiet villainy makes for a great vampire overlord.
And that’s the main appeal of the movie, really. Vampires! Does the movie deliver on all things bloodthirsty? Yes, for sure… eventually. There’s no denying there’s an element of slow burn to acts one and two; the story at first seems unsure whether it’s a police procedural, a social justice piece, or a plain old vampire flick, and as such, it takes a little while to see our fanged foes. Once we do, their presence is refreshing and interesting. Their menace is made more modern with metal-plated fangs, yet they remain rooted in traditional lore, much of which is delivered through Nicki Micheaux’s Ayanda, and it’s this story thread that reveals the movie’s main issue.
NIGHT PATROL isn’t always sure what it wants to be, and nowhere is this more obvious than in the slightly convoluted ancient vampire lore. There’s some sort of vague allusion to an ancient battle between good and evil, a cool enough concept, but we never really understand who’s fighting for whom… and why. Add to this too many factions, conspiracy theories, and main characters who switch sides more often than the vampires switch out their teeth, and it’s all a bit too much. And that’s a shame because the stylish cinematography, combined with the truly great leads, might have made this movie into a real 5-star piece.
The final act, which should be a fantastic, blood-fuelled conclusion, is confusing. Who’s doing what? Why are the vamps doing THAT? The movie hints at answers, but doesn’t seem to know itself, hiding its narrative shortcomings behind the larger themes and social commentary.
Still, this slight messiness does not totally detract from the movie. Ultimately, we’re here for the vampires, and man, do they look good! The visual effects are truly awesome, with the final act boss form of the villains looking insectovorious and gruesome. Combine this with some literal gut-ripping gore, and you have some creatures of the night who will live in your memory for a long time. Cinematographer Benjamin Kitchens delivers some innovative action shots, and Bradinn French’s editing is both fast-paced and incredibly watchable.
NIGHT PATROL is far from perfect, but it has enough interesting elements to make it worth your while. It’ll make you think, it’ll make you hyped, and it’ll leave you wondering if there’s any genre into which vampires won’t fit.
