In the current cinematic landscape, horror has often served as a fertile ground for exploring the anxieties of the modern world. Director Ryan Prows, returning to the feature format after his well-received debut Lowlife and work on V/H/S/94, attempts his most audacious project yet with Night Patrol. Co-written by Prows alongside Shaye Ogbonna, Tim Cairo, and Jake Gibson, this production from Phantom Four Films represents a collision between the gritty realism of 1990s Los Angeles crime dramas and the visceral, blood-soaked tropes of the vampire sub-genre. Originally slated for a 2025 release, the film saw its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in late 2025 before arriving in U.S. theaters on January 16, 2026, under the distribution of RLJE Films and Shudder.
The narrative centers on a community in the housing projects of South Central Los Angeles, a place already burdened by the weight of a decades-long gang war between the Crips and the Bloods. However, a new threat emerges in the form of "Night Patrol," an elite, all-white LAPD task force that operates more like a militant gang than a law enforcement agency. When a young Crip member named Wazi (RJ Cyler) witnesses these officers commit a cold-blooded murder, he discovers that the "corruption" in the department is far more ancient and literal than anyone could have imagined. As his police officer brother, Xavier (Jermaine Fowler), and his partner, Ethan (Justin Long), become entangled in the patrol’s web, the film transforms into a survivalist battle that pits modern weaponry and African mysticism against a supernatural predator.
Story and Screenplay: A Collision of Concrete and Capes
The script for Night Patrol is a dense, high-concept narrative that attempts to serve multiple masters. It functions as a street-level crime thriller, a social commentary on racialized policing, and a "creature feature". Structurally, the film is divided into three distinct segments: "LAPD," "Night Patrol," and "The Courts". This ambitious formatting, while providing a roadmap for the film's tonal evolution, has been criticized for being somewhat nonsensical, as the chapters don’t always align exclusively with the characters or themes they suggest. The pacing reflects this divided nature, spending the first half establishing the harsh reality of life in the projects before "dropping the ball" on its supernatural twist around the midway point.
There is a palpable tension in how the screenplay handles its central allegory. By making racist, violent police officers literal vampires who feed on Black citizens, the writers provide a visceral metaphor for systemic predation. However, the effectiveness of this choice is debated. Some viewers might find the transition from a serious exploration of police brutality to a "supernatural gang battle" to be jarring or even a dismissal of real-world human problems. The script adds layers of complexity through the introduction of Zulu mysticism, brought to life by the matriarch Ayanda, which serves as a counterpoint to the "vampire-colonizer" threat. While these ideas are rich and innovative, they often compete for space, leading to a final act that feels cluttered and occasionally loses track of its characters' emotional arcs.
Acting and Characters: Powerhouse Performances in a War Zone
Despite any narrative stumbling blocks, the ensemble cast delivers performances that are universally described as committed and grounding. Jermaine Fowler and RJ Cyler provide the emotional heart of the film as brothers on opposite sides of the legal fence. Cyler, in particular, excels as Wazi, capturing the vulnerability of a young man who has seen too much, while Fowler portrays the internal conflict of an officer trying to succeed in a system that views his family as targets. Their dynamic, though sometimes pushed to the background by the high-octane plot, offers a necessary human anchor to the escalating chaos.
Justin Long continues to cement his reputation as a modern horror icon with a performance that weaponizes his "nice guy" persona. As Ethan, a cop seeking to avenge his father’s death by infiltrating the Night Patrol, Long navigates a tricky arc that involves moral wavering and a eventual, grisly transformation. While some found his redemption arc to be at odds with the film’s broader political goals, his presence adds a layer of fun and unpredictability. However, the true standout for many is Nicki Micheaux as Ayanda. She portrays the community matriarch with a fierce, spiritual determination, bridging the gap between the gritty present and the mystical past with a "no-nonsense" attitude that commands every scene she is in.
Direction and Technical Aspects: The VHS Aesthetics of Modern LA
Ryan Prows brings a distinct visual language to Night Patrol that sets it apart from more polished, big-budget horror offerings. Working with cinematographer Benjamin Kitchens, Prows employs a "sun-bleached" and grainy aesthetic that evokes the feel of a 1990s VHS tape. The use of long takes and gritty handheld camerawork immerses the viewer in the stifling atmosphere of the housing projects, making the environment feel like a living, breathing character. This choice reinforces the film's roots in the "street crime" genre, creating a sense of "crepuscular glow" even in the most mundane settings.
When the horror elements finally take center stage, the direction shifts to capture the disorientation of the supernatural. Prows experiments with "vampire POV" shots, using black-and-white color palettes and "wonky" stretching effects to convey the predators' mind-control abilities. The visual effects are a blend of practical and digital gore that critics have noted as "appropriately gruesome" and "splattery," though some sequences in the final battle suffer from a lack of geographical clarity, with characters seemingly appearing and disappearing across the neighborhood at will. Despite these occasional lapses in spatial logic, the film remains a "visually engaging piece" that showcases Prows’ growth as a stylist.
Trailer Night Patrol (2025)
Music and Atmosphere: From Hip-Hop to Otherworldly Synths
The auditory experience of Night Patrol is as eclectic and vibrant as its visual style. The score, composed by Pepijn Caudron, swings between "aggressive hip-hop" and "otherworldly, Wendy Carlos-inspired synth," perfectly mirroring the film’s genre-bending nature. During the film's more kinetic sequences, the music provides a "galvanic rhythm" that propels the action forward. However, some have noted that the energetic nature of the score can create a "confusing" emotional response, particularly during scenes of extreme violence where it is unclear if the audience should be riveted or repulsed.
The sound design further enhances the atmosphere by playing with the contrast between the familiar sounds of the city and the supernatural presence. The "piercing lights" and "shrill sounds" of police sirens become a recurring motif for terror, while the introduction of the Zulu weapons brings a new sonic palette to the screen, including a "glowing spear" that sounds remarkably like a lightsaber. This mix of the mundane and the fantastical helps build a mood of "vague dread" that permeates the film’s many night-time excursions. While the sound effects for some of the hand-to-hand combat have been critiqued for "underselling" wounds, the overall audio landscape effectively serves the film's "wild" and "manic" energy.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Original Genre Mashup: The film successfully combines LA street drama with a unique, African-influenced take on vampire mythology.
- Stellar Casting: Powerful, grounded performances from Nicki Micheaux, RJ Cyler, and Justin Long keep the film from feeling entirely like a "fantastical spectacle".
- Distinct Visual Style: The sun-bleached, grainy VHS aesthetic provides a "refreshingly distinct" look that pays homage to 90s cinema.
- Bold Social Commentary: The film’s "defang the police" tagline reflects its ambitious attempt to use horror as a prism for real-world issues.
Weaknesses:
- Tonal Inconsistency: The transition from a serious crime drama to a supernatural bloodbath can feel "jarring" and "confusing".
- Pacing and Structure: A slow-burn first half leads to a cluttered final act where the "vampire element" can feel like a "last hurrah" rather than a fully integrated plot point.
- Logic Gaps: Critics noted "bizarrely soft" action and a lack of geographical sense in the climax, alongside some "nonsensical" chapter headings.
- Underdeveloped Arcs: Some characters are used primarily as "plot devices," and the film's central message can occasionally be lost in the "carnage".
Final Verdict: An Ambitious But Uneven Bite Out of the Genre
Rating: 3/5 stars
Night Patrol is a film that demands its audience "adjust their brain" to accommodate its wild shifts in style and substance. It is not a straightforward monster movie, nor is it a traditional social drama; instead, it exists in the messy, high-energy space between them. While it may not reach the heights of recent "elevated" horror hits like Sinners, it possesses a "madcap energy" and a "lived-in sense of history" that makes it far more interesting than a standard January release. The film’s risks are its greatest asset and its greatest liability, resulting in a project that is "familiar and unique in all the right ways," even when it "jumps the shark" in its final moments.
For those who enjoy "genre mashups" like From Dusk Till Dawn or are fans of Ryan Prows' previous work, this is a "worthwhile watch" that offers a fresh perspective on the vampire mythos. It is a film for viewers who appreciate stylistic flourishes and are willing to overlook some "muddled execution" in exchange for bold ideas and "splattery moments of vampire bloodshed". However, those seeking a tightly woven narrative or a more "authoritative voice" on its social themes might find the experience "frustrating" and "questionable on a thematic level". Ultimately, Night Patrol is an "inventive yet troublingly familiar" tale that proves Prows is a filmmaker worth following, even when his reach exceeds his grasp.
Recommendation: This is a solid pick for a "horror-night" rental or a theater outing for those who love "B-movie" zest mixed with "punishing" grit. Just be prepared for a movie that cares more about the "bloodbath" than the "analogy" by the time the credits roll.
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