NEW TO NETFLIX! As rent continues to skyrocket and growing gentrification beings to suffocate their beloved Bronx, “Lil Mayor” Miguel (Jaden Michael), teams up with his two best friends, Bobby (Gerald Jones III) and Luis (Gregory Diaz IV), to save their neighborhood. But in a place where “nobody would care if you just disappeared,” there seems to be a lot of disappearances. The investigation is on as the three friends begin to uncover plans of the mysterious Murnau company. Between ducking creatures of the night and a rising body count, only one thing can be certain: “We got vampires in the Bronx.”
Opening with Miguel’s attempts to save the local bodega, Vampires Vs. The Bronx tells the story of three friends living through socioeconomic strife and clinging to the life they hold dearest. After Miguel witnesses a vampire attack, he soon realizes he will have to save The Bronx from more than just rising rent. Quickly getting an education in vampire slaying from a Blade marathon, it’s off to kill “Suckheads.” With Bobby and Luis as backup, Miguel leads his friends in the spirit of community, class, and – most of all – killing every vampire they find.
“…the three friends begin to uncover plans of the mysterious Murnau company.”
Vampires Vs. The Bronx is an excellent example of a Gen Z vampire film; as it turns out, “Zoomer” humor and monster movie tropes work really well together. The banter of Michael, Jones III, and Diaz IV flows so naturally throughout the film – the chemistry is undeniable. Even with our main characters’ witty lines, the film finds moments to talk about broader issues facing the community, such as class struggles, gentrification, and gang presence within the neighborhood. Balancing these real-world problems with the battling creatures of the night can be a difficult balance, but Vampires Vs. The Bronx finds ways to balance this with style and tons of humor.
First and foremost, I love vampire films and thoroughly enjoyed my experience watching Vampires Vs. The Bronx. It has enough subtle and even not-so-subtle homages to classic vampire films to please any fan of The Lost Boys or the characters’ inspiration, Blade. The montage of the kids learning the “vampire rules” is so Edgar Wright-influenced and hilarious that I rewound the film to see it again.
The film has some moments of cliché, and the final showdown is a bit of a letdown compared to other classic monster films. Beyond these small shortcomings, Vampires Vs. The Bronx is a great way to introduce your kids or pre-teens to the vampire genre and a fun look at how Gen Z plans to deal with armies of the undead.
"…a fun look at how Gen Z plans to deal with armies of the undead. "
