Netflix’s new vampire action-comedy film, “Day Shift,” stars Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski, a pool cleaner who does the secret job of hunting vampires for a living. He has one week to come up with the cash for his child’s braces and school expenses. In doing so, he must hunt down the worst of vampires and sell their teeth for cash.
Directed by J. J. Perry, this action-fueled horror comedy co-stars Dave Franco, Meagan Good, and Snoop Dogg. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Talking about vampire films or series currently available on Netflix, “Day Shift” is no better but an entertainer for its good camera work and those extended fight sequences involving acrobatic feats. The film gives us a 90s vibe, not just because of the action but the buddy comedy humor i.e., the chemistry between the mismatched duo, and the Snoop Dogg cameo.
“Day Shift” has some good ideas in play such as the existence of a union that takes care of vampire hunters, the selling of vampire fangs (not sure of its uses though), and the straightforward approach of presenting vampires not under the usual darkness but even during the daytime when they can roam freely among us, and the idea of a vampire being in a real estate business.
Overall, the story is tightly written knowing the cliché zones and the need to make the whole experience entertaining if not unique. Tyler Tice co-wrote the script along with Shay Hatten–known for his work on John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), Army of the Dead, and Army of Thieves (both 2021).
Bud is a complex character that portrays a loving father who does his best to provide for his daughter. Then there is Bud’s friend Seth (Dave Franco), an accountant by profession who is compelled to work as a vampire hunter. Although they are unlikely friends, they both have a job to accomplish. This is where the film touches on a cliché of those buddy cop films but delivers the much-needed humor.
However, for the rest of the characters, the writing could have been much better in establishing those roles. Nevertheless, looking at the way, the writers created the world around vampires, it could have been much better as a limited series (with more detailing and backstory to those characters) rather than just a tribute film to a lot of different genres, including horror, buddy cop, martial art, action comedy, and of course, the age-old vampire saga.
Just as you plan to watch “Day Shift,” rest assured that Netflix will continue to invest in vampire stories rather than just outright intense action films like “The Gray Man.” Regardless of whether these are some of the finest in their respective genres, there is a high demand for action-packed, entertaining films. And it’s likely that “Day Shift” might get a sequel.
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Meagan Good, Karla Souza, Steve Howey, Scott Adkins, Oliver Masucci, Snoop Dogg, Eric Lange, Peter Stormare, and Zion Broadnax.
Directed by J. J. Perry
Screenplay by Tyler Tice and Shay Hatten
Cinematography by Toby Oliver
Release Date: August 12, 2022
Where to watch Day Shift (2022)
