This is all to say that my expectations were very high going into the movie.
Is itone ofthe best movies of the year?
Does it meet the hype as one of the best movies of the best of the last few years?
I think that’s more debatable than critics are making it seem.
However, that’s not really a negative on the movie and I’ll explain why as we go.
Seriously, how many vampire movies and shows have we seen?
5 new ones every year?
Even last year, ‘Nosferatu’ was one of the top movies on the year.
So when audiences have seen a million different versions of vampires, how do you make them feel fresh?
Well, Ryan Coogler found a way.
On the technical end, most everything works.
He scored this movie and was an executive producer and every music sequence rocks.
The production value is great, really immersing you in the time period and location.
The vamps are also scary as shit, using a cool eye effect similar to Balthazar from ‘Constantine’.
I think the only technical complaint I would have is that it sags a bit in the middle.
First act is great setup and the third act is absolutely killer but I felt the drag.
On the acting end, most of the cast crushes it.
Lastly, Hailee Steinfeld is great in kind of a dual performance and Jack O’Connell is a terrifying villain.
Overall, it is one of the best movies of 2025.
It’s fresh, scary, sexy and generally great across the board.
It’s not perfect, but that is not the movie’s fault but the critics.
And, to be clear,this is not a bad thing.
We’re talking about the difference between a 95/100 and 99/100.
Both really good scores.
