Talk about those movies that can't seem to be forgotten. The ones that bring a particular kind of experience that leaves viewers and audiences captivated even many years after its release and after watching it. One that becomes synonymous with a genre that you can't talk about that genre without making mention of it. Such a kind of movie is one that easily evokes the feeling of nostalgia, and this one here sure does all of that.
You can't talk about vampire movies and somehow not mention the movie Blade. The 1998 movie is the first instalment in the Blade trilogy franchise, directed by Stephen Norrington and written by David S. Goyer. It stars Wesley Snipes as Blade, Stephen Dorff as Deacon Frost, Kris Kristofferson as Abraham Whistler, N'Bushe Wright as Dr. Karen Jenson, Donal Logue as Quinn, and Sanaa Lathan as Vanessa. It's acclaimed as Marvel’s first successful film.
The horror/action is a dark superhero film based on Marvel’s Comic character, Blade, a human-vampire hybrid who hunts and fights other vampires. Possessing all the strength of a vampire but not their weaknesses; like sunlight or garlic, except for the need to consume blood, he became a threat. His ability to walk and fight in direct sunlight without getting burnt to ashes got him nicknamed “Daywalker” by the vampires he hunted. Blade wasn't like the other vampires, he used his abilities to stop them from doing harm to humans.
You can say that his human part as a human-vampire got the better of him. It would've been really intriguing trying to understand how Blade turned out to be a human-vampire hybrid. The movie however answered that right from the beginning. His efforts and fight towards stopping other vampires were aided by Whistler; a middle-aged man who helped him in their little space to make serum, tools and devices he used in fighting the other vampires. Whistler was a great part of Blade’s life, right from a young age.
Then there was Deacon Frost, a vampire who killed the elders of the hidden, underground society of vampires to have power and control over his kind. Knowing about Blade increased his quest and desire for power and dominance. He desired Blade's abilities which would mean not being limited by any weakness. You can be sure about where this is headed. Frost would do anything to get Blade and use his blood to transform himself into that powerful, invincible and unstoppable force of a vampire.
As mentioned, it's hard to talk about vampire movies and in some way this movie, Blade would be missing from the conversation. The dark superhero quality that Blade carried is something that isn't usually seen. The movie brought something to the vampire movie world that made it easily relatable and welcomed by viewers and audiences. It takes one on a ride to experience the action sequences and vampire horror; though the movie doesn't touch much on this. It focused basically on Blade and his fight against vampires rather than the dynamics.
One thing the movie does well is the visual tone and colour grading, a credit to its cinematography. The dark visual tone/atmosphere gives the movie that horror-vampire feel. That can also be seen in the looks and superficial expressions of the vampires. Blade had a way of balancing that atmosphere and evoking the feeling of what the movie is about and what it's setting out to achieve; a cold, dark vampire film. It displayed impressive fight choreography.
It's probably fair to say this movie did set a trajectory for Wesley Snipes' acting career. It became a signature role for him. The character, Blade was well executed and presented by Wesley Snipes. From the haircut, the glasses, his sword and serum, to the mannerisms and expressions, he brought Blade to life and made the movie worth watching, even for a franchise. Stephen Dorff, as the villain and vampire leader did a good job. So also Kris Kristofferson as Whistler and N'Bushe Wright as Karen, who became a major part of the movie mid-plot.
The movie is one that undeniably remains synonymous with vampire-horror. It was interesting to see a man with such abilities use them for good, against those he should have probably formed an alliance with or rather ruled over and used to conquer the human world. That specifically adds to the plot. Blade wasn't just a human bringing the fight to vampires as some movies would have it, he was a vampire as well which makes it more believable and interesting, considering the strength of vampires. Blade was a good watch.
Thank you for reading!
Rating: 80/100
