A light opener to kickstart your spooky season. Netflix’s latest kid adventure is all about the gentrification of the Bronx. Birthplace and home to a group of young teenagers that aren’t willing to see their neighbourhood go down without a fight. They soon realise however, that they may have bitten off more than they can chew (pun intended), when they become aware that something far more sinister is afoot.
Upon discovering that their beloved hometown is soon to become a nest for the blood sucking type (no not business moguls), Miguel (Jaden Michael), Bobby (Gerald Jones III) and Luis (Gregory Diaz IV) must defend their turf at all costs. Especially when the rest of the neighbourhood are oblivious to the demonic scheme.
Right off the bat, Oz Rodriguez’ halloween hokey flick gave off Attack the Block (2011) vibes. It’s more or less similar in structure when it boils down to it, but thankfully does enough to create its own identity when it comes to the details.
Despite feeing very light in both comedy and horror, Vampires vs. the Bronx excels in its coming of age quirkiness. When the actors, most noticeably the kids, are left to just exercise the basics within their roles, the movie becomes better for it. Add Method Man as a priest to the mix, which is a joke in itself, and you have the ingredients of something special.
It’s ironically the vampire aspect, that despite making up the other half of this movie, forces this otherwise fun filled, family fluff, to lose a lot of its momentum. Where the plot thickens, as it were, my interest in the film grew slimmer. The villainous scheme is as basic as it comes, and there’s rarely a moment that really stands out after the first hour. It tries to offer up a few twists to keep the most keen of movie watchers invested, but you could see all of them coming from a mile off. With the inclusion of some lacklustre visuals, you could really start to see the cracks appear.
For what it’s worth, Vampires vs. the Bronx is a fun ride that’s suited more to the younger audience, but adults can find something from it, that can make it seem worth while. With its appearance on Netflix, and a runtime hitting only 85 minutes, it becomes easy and short enough to sink your teeth into (pun intended).
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