Watch Day Shift

Day Shift is a high-octane action-comedy movie blending vampire lore with exhilarating fight scenes and a dose of good humor. This genre-bending film takes a unique approach to vampire mythology, setting it against the backdrop of sunny Los Angeles. The movie was released in 2022 and stars Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo in pivotal roles. The film provides a fresh and entertaining spin on the creature-feature genre, delivering both laughs and adrenaline in equal measure.

At its core, Day Shift follows the life of a hardworking blue-collar worker and devoted father, Bud Jablonski, played by Jamie Foxx. However, this is no ordinary tale of a man trying to make ends meet; Bud's day job as a pool cleaner is merely a front for his real source of income – hunting and killing vampires. Set in the sun-drenched landscape of the San Fernando Valley, Bud's work is as dangerous as it is lucrative, with each vampire fang ensuring a hefty payday.

Jamie Foxx’s character is far from an ordinary vampire hunter; he is a rogue and operates outside the established guild of hunters, which has its own rules and bureaucracy. The film sees Foxx demonstrate a blend of charisma and combat skills as he navigates through multiple perilous situations. His character is multi-dimensional, balancing his lethal profession with his role as a father and revealing the nuanced human emotions that drive his actions.

Dave Franco portrays Seth, a by-the-books employee from the union that oversees vampire hunters. Seth serves as a representative of the rules and compliance in the hunter community, which juxtaposes Bud’s rogue nature. His character's introduction to the narrative serves as the catalyst for a buddy-cop dynamic that drives much of the film's humor and interplays, as their juxtaposing personalities clash and converge throughout their journey. Franco's character is thrust into a world of danger and chaos, which he is not entirely prepared for, creating moments of comedic relief and endearing vulnerability.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo's character adds to the depth and diversity of the storyline, providing a strong, capable presence in the vampire-hunting world. Her portrayal of a capable and strong-willed vampire hunter reveals a dimension of the story that encourages themes of empowerment and camaraderie within the treacherous setting.

The plot of Day Shift is as much about the world of vampire hunting as it is a commentary on working-class struggles. The film navigates themes of economic pressures and the lengths one might go to provide for their family, all wrapped in the guise of supernatural encounters. Bud's commitment to his daughter adds an emotional layer to the story, grounding the fantastical elements with relatable, real-world stakes.

The movie doesn't shy away from embracing the ridiculousness inherent in its premise. The vampires in Day Shift are not your traditional, sleek, and seductive creatures of the night but are presented with a mix of horror and camp. They have their own society and hierarchy, and Bud has to navigate this complex world, making his job all the more hazardous and challenging.

Director J.J. Perry, a famed stunt coordinator, ensures that Day Shift stands out for its kinetic and well-choreographed action sequences. The film presents a variety of fight scenes that showcase an impressive level of physicality and inventive use of the environment, from hand-to-hand combat to frenetic car chases. The attention to detail in the stunts and the creativity in how they're executed contribute to the film's overall entertainment value.

The visual effects are employed to enhance the supernatural elements, bringing the vampire lore to life in vivid and often visceral detail. There's a tangible sense of peril as the various types of vampires display unique abilities and traits, creating obstacles that Bud and his reluctant sidekick Seth must overcome.

Aesthetically, Day Shift mixes the mundane with the fantastical, creating a world that is grounded yet wildly imaginative. The sunlit streets of LA provide a stark contrast to the darkness that Bud confronts on a daily basis, and the film capitalizes on this dichotomy, both visually and thematically. The cinematography supports the pacing and mood of the film, oscillating between daytime normalcy and the threat that looms as the sun sets.

The movie also takes a comedic approach to vampire hunting, and the script is peppered with witty one-liners and humorous exchanges. This levity balances the darker elements of the film and ensures that Day Shift, despite its encounters with the undead, doesn't take itself too seriously.

In conclusion, Day Shift provides a bumpy ride packed with action, humor, and a little heart. It's a genre film that isn't afraid to have fun with the conventions of vampire movies while offering thrilling set pieces and a cast of characters that audiences can root for. Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo lead this fast-paced adventure that is as much about family and friendship as it is about slaying bloodthirsty vampires under the Los Angeles sun.

Day Shift is a 2022 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 51.