Vampires vs the Bronx movie review: New horror comedy saves Netflixs soul, breathes life into done-to-death… – Hindustan Times

Vampires vs the BronxDirector:Oz RodriguezCast: Jaden Michael, Gerald W Jones III, Gregory Diaz IV, Sarah Gadon, Method Man, Shea Wigham

In the fine tradition of films such as Attack the Block and Cockneys vs Zombies, Vampires vs the Bronx is a low-key ode to both genre cinema and the power of minorities.

Given a subdued release on Netflix, the breezy little bear-hug of a movie gives a voice to the working class, and is just as passionate about the perils of gentrification as it is about the art of killing vampires.

Watch the Vampires vs the Bronx trailer here

When a coven of the undead begins taking over real estate in the Bronx to create a mass nest, a trio of teenage boys bands together to take them down. Miguel is the de facto leader of the group hes known in the neighbourhood as Lil Mayor with the nerdy Luis, and considerably more hardened Bobby serving as sidekicks.

This a good movie, with colourful characters and a real sense of place. Even though the plots wafer-thin, the themes are as potent as the venom running through the vampires veins. Bobby, for instance, is expected by the entire neighbourhood to end up like his dad, a victim of gang violence. Lil Mayor, meanwhile, appears to be following in the footsteps of the Bronxs favourite child, AOC.

Its young Luis, however, who steals every scene. Described as Puerto Rican Harry Potter, hes the most resourceful member of the gang, equipped at all times with holy water (packed into plastic bottles of Sprite), Eucharist (stolen from the church in a terrific heist sequence), and pods of garlic (swiped from his grandmothers kitchen). They also fashion wooden stakes out of baseball bats.

A still from Netflixs Vampires vs the Bronx.

At roughly an hour and 20 minutes long, writer-director Oz Rodriguez barely allows his film (and his protagonists) room to breathe, which is fine. Vampires vs the Bronx is more concerned about its characters than character development; its more comfortable in quick comedic moments than large-scale action.

And unlike some of the more popular movies of its kind Zombieland and the recent Get Duked! come to mind immediately it is bloodless enough to be enjoyed by kids. That isnt to say that it lacks bite, but its certainly not as hyper-violent as the Blade movies that Miguel, Bobby and Luis marathon as homework ahead of taking on the coven.

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For the adults, theres a palpable love for vampire cinema to admire the evil real estate firm that the bloodsuckers use as a front is named after Nosferatu director FW Murnau, and in one scene, Shea Wighams character, as if channelling Bela Lugosi, recoils at the sunlight seeping in from his office windows and seethes, The afternoon sun can be murder.

Wighams is not the only bit of inspired casting that Rodriguez pulls off. Zoe Saldana appears in a cameo, Method Man stars as the local padre, and The Kid Mero plays the loveable bodega owner Tony. None of them probably spent more than a day or two on the film, but their involvement no doubt helped it get made.

Follow @htshowbiz for moreThe author tweets @RohanNaahar

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Vampires vs the Bronx movie review: New horror comedy saves Netflixs soul, breathes life into done-to-death... - Hindustan Times