“Night Patrol” would have benefited if it wasn’t a horror film. It feels that there are two scripts at play here. One where the film is a social commentary on class, race, and gangs, as well as, family.  All very well executed. And the other is a hookey, janky, wacky, horror film that can’t get enough shaky cams in. The film is achieving just sticking to the first one. It has a gritty, rebellious, almost rough edge to it that is quite enjoyable. An austure, credible unpolished work.  that when the dialogue goes hookey or when discussing mysticism or demons it subtracts from what the film was trying so hard to show. A film that tells us a LAPD task force that only works at night is secretly a covenant for some racist vampires. A reveal that comes out in the movie so awkwardly that many in the audience didn’t know how to react. There is some serious clunky editing in this. The film just can’t shake off the appearance of a glorified student film. A high-school student film.

It would also benefit from not having a music score in it. A solemn slow synthesized harmonies play throughout that doesn’t go with the hard thrashing action. The framing of the film starts great and has a sense of care until after an hour and then it seems it falls into the whatever-just get the shot. A result that might be from deadlines and scheduling. The acting is par and buddy cop scenes are true but nothing with any interactions of the characters feels genuine. There is no time where the film just aerates.  Let the action develop and sustain with the viewers. 

Justin Long does his best in this. Dermont Mulroney frowns and growls so hard to give something in this. There is some kind of good vs. evil showdown that I truly don’t know was played for laughs or to be take serious. Either way  it all falls flat. “Night Patrol” is a fascinating look at when a film takes on too many genres. It wants to be taken seriously and also be laughed at, and you will just not the time the film wants you too.  3.5/10