Exclusive: NIGHT PATROL Rewrites The Rules Of Vampire Horror
Vampire movies have pretty much been a thing for as long as horror has been a thing. From 1922’s classic Nosferatu to more recent entries in the vampire movie canon such as Abigail, these fanged beasts represent well-trodden territory. As such, it can be tough to liven up this beloved sub-genre. Be that as it may, director Ryan Prows is trying to do precisely that with his new movie Night Patrol.
Fango’s own Angel Melanson had the chance to speak with Prows and one of the movie’s stars, RJ Cyler, following the premiere at Fantastic Fest. When it came to Night Patrol, Prows tried to do something a little unconventional, not unlike From Dusk Till Dawn or Blood Red Sky. The filmmaker is trying to rewrite the rules of vampire movies, ambitious though it may be. Here’s what he had to say about it:
“A very big driving force early on was, how do we take what we know, have fun with the vampire lore, but then rewrite the rules and get to re-introduce these rules? Culturally, we were doing a lot of research.”
The director also noted that he was “pulling from Zulu but Afrocentrism in general.” The movie features a Black-led cast, with Jermaine Fowler (The Blackening) and Cyler at the center of the action. “It’s familiar territory, but also scary. It was hard to kind of get going,” Prows said. “Once we got it cast, it was like we couldn’t catch the boulder. It was rolling too fast.”
Night Patrol is currently set to hit theaters in January. RLJE Films also cut a deal with Shudder for the film, which means it will also be readily available for horror fans on streaming next year after its theatrical run is over. As for what it’s about? The official synopsis reads as follows:
“An LAPD officer must put aside his differences with the area's street gangs when he discovers a local police task force is harboring a horrific secret that endangers the residents of the housing projects he grew up in.”
The stacked cast also includes Justin Long (Barbarian), Freddie Gibbs (Down with the King), CM Punk (Girls on the Third Floor), YG (White Boy Rick), Flying Lotus (Ash), Dermot Mulroney (Scream IV), Jon Oswald (Lowlife) and Nicki Micheaux (In the Dark).
Night Patrol hits theaters on January 16, 2026. You can check out our full interview with Ryan Prows and RJ Cyler above.
