Notable Cast: Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long, RJ Cyler,
Nicki Micheaux, Freddie Gibbs, Phil Brooks, Dermot Mulroney, YG, Flying Lotus
Watching Night Patrol made me realize something. Boy,
do I really miss Tales from the Crypt. Not just the show, but there was
a time in the 90s when the HBO horror series made the leap to the silver screen
for a couple of films. (Do we count that third Tales from the Crypt
movie, Ritual, that no one saw?) Watching the strange concoction that is
Night Patrol gave me the vibes of when I saw Demon Knight some
decades ago. The offbeat humor, the bold swings in lore-building, the use of
fantastic character actors, and the ambitiously deranged social commentary just
give off big Tales from the Crypt vibes. And, quite frankly, I am 100%
here for it.
Night Patrol is the kind of independent horror that
ought to find a very dedicated audience with time. Not only does it encapsulate
the era of its release, particularly in how it portrays police violence and a
distinct arm of the law that seemingly operates with no limitations, but it
also does so by creating its own world that runs parallel to our own. Ryan
Prows’ second feature-length effort is so oddly satisfying in the threading of
its tones and themes that it immediately cements itself as a cult classic -
brutally punchy in its efforts, but so incredibly watchable nonetheless.