Review of Priest (2011) by Antony G — 26 Jan 2013

Based on the graphic novels of the same name this very unoriginal vampire movie just didn't quite hit the stop despite promising so much. At times I thought I was watching a montage of other cult movies within the same genre with other genres thrown in for good measure.

The Matrix is its heaviest influence, hell the fight scene involving Bettany & Urban is straight out of the second Matrix movie between Morpheus & Mr Smith. if it wasn't on top of a train you'd be sure you were watching that scene! The vampires are an original twist as far as their appearance as opposed to the humanoid look of past vampire movies.

Sadly they have an uncanny resemblance to the Lickers of Resident Evil. Other influences include 1984 as mankind now lives in a totalitarian society except Big Brother in this instance is the Christian Church.

I just couldn't help finding other movies within this film with Van Helsing & Underworld popping up. Hell even Constantine sprung to mind as Bettany's character had an air of Keanu Reeves' character from attitude to the way he spoke! Apart from that there was a decent movie mixed up in there somewhere.

Mankind has laid waste to the planet in their war against the vampire with the help of the Priests, highly trained warrior's trained by the Church to combat vampires. Mankind has come to live in huge walled cities (Judge Dredd or even FFVII anyone?) with the vampires finally being conquered & forced to live in prison-like reservations.

With the war won the Priests are no longer needed are disbanded but something has stirred & started to breed a new army of vampires with our protagonist, Bettany, racing across the wasteland hunting them down after they capture his niece.

It's a race against time before she becomes infected & before a new war ignites with mankind unprepared with the Priests no longer there to protect them.