Wesley Snipes the Vampire Slayer

Rating: 8/10 (27 January 2017)

Vampires are living amongst us with the collaboration of those in power; they manage to keep a low profile though that is until upstart vampire, Deacon Frost, decides that the old order needs to be overthrown. Standing against the vampires is Blade, the 'Day Walker', a half vampire who has none of the usual vampire weaknesses and, with the help of a serum, can control his lust for blood. Other senior vampires look down on Frost because he was turned rather than born a vampire but unlike them he is interested in the past and has deciphered ancient text with tell how to summon the Blood God to do it he will require Blade's blood.
Early on Blade rescues a doctor. Karen, who has been bitten and takes her back to his base where, with the help of his friend Whistler, they attempt to cure her. Once treated she tries to help him find a cure as well as working to make more effective weapons to battle the vampires. After many fights with Frost's underlings the final confrontation and the ceremony take place inevitably it will be fairly bloody.
I haven't read any of the comics that inspired the film so can't say how close this is I can however say that this is an exciting take on vampire films. Gone are the usual crosses and holy water; instead we get swords and silver stakes and bullets. While there are plenty of horror elements it is effectively an action film with lots of shooting and martial arts action. Wesley Snipes is great in the title role as he makes the action look real rather than excessively choreographed. Stephen Dorff is menacing enough as bad guy Frost; it helps that the character is an intelligent villain rather than an obviously matched evil version of Blade. N'Bushe Wright is likable as Karen, Kris Kristofferson is solid enough as Whistler and Donal Logue provides some needed levity as a vampire who keeps getting an arm hacked off. The action scenes are pretty intense and at times quite bloody. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of Snipes, vampire films or exciting action.