Night Patrol (dir. Ryan Prows)

By: Dave Hughes

Justin Long has solidified his status as a modern horror icon. Following standout roles in Jeepers Creepers (2001), Tusk (2014), and Barbarian (2022), audiences have come to associate his presence with some of the most unsettling and twisted entries in the genre. His latest foray into horror is Night Patrol (2026). Directed by Ryan Prows, the film is an ambitious project that attempts to juggle multiple complex themes within a traditional horror framework. It is a visually striking piece of cinema that offers several memorable sequences. However, despite its early promise, the narrative eventually devolves into a jumbled mess as it approaches its conclusion.

Set in Los Angeles, Night Patrol follows police officer Ethan Hawkins, played by Justin Long. Hawkins deeply desires to join the "Night Patrol," a top-secret and enigmatic division of the police department, for reasons he keeps largely to himself. The film introduces a sprawling cast of characters, each navigating the narrative with significantly different stakes. Jermaine Fowler (Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah) portrays Hawkins' partner, Xavier Carr. While Carr serves as a police officer, he maintains strong ties to the lower-income areas of the city where his brother resides. The Night Patrol itself is revealed to be a predatory section of law enforcement. Led by Sarge (Dermot Mulroney) and Deputy (Phil Brooks), this elite squad is comprised of vampires who prey on disenfranchised citizens. They satisfy their bloodlust under the guise of maintaining justice and order.

Visually, Night Patrol offers a significant amount of stylistic flair, particularly during the film’s opening segments. As Long and Fowler navigate their characters through their shift, the cinematography pays homage to classic police procedurals. The camera is frequently positioned atop the patrol vehicle, providing the audience with a unique and immersive perspective of the city. Furthermore, the film utilizes sweeping shots of the various neighborhoods the officers visit. These visuals highlight the socioeconomic diversity of Los Angeles, effectively transforming the city itself into a prominent and complex character. By capturing the stark differences between these environments, director Prows grounds the supernatural elements in a tangible, lived-in reality.

Director Ryan Prows attempts to balance a heavy exploration of police corruption and racial inequality against the tropes of a traditional vampire movie. This tonal shift often creates a disconnect because the gravity of the social commentary feels at odds with the supernatural elements of the script.Because of this genre-reliance, the underlying social messages often fall flat. The subplots involving systemic police corruption and the socioeconomic diversity of Los Angeles are compelling in isolation. However, the narrative introduces too many disparate plot points, causing the story to become increasingly convoluted. There are moments where Night Patrol captures the energy of a 1980s-era genre film through its stylistically shot visuals and neon-soaked atmosphere. Ultimately, the thinness of the plot fails to support the strength of those visual choices, leaving the audience with an experience that is more style than substance.

Target Score: 4/10 Although rich with visuals, Night Patrol does not have the plot or the characters to match its ambition. The film becomes a more convoluted mess the further it attempts to send its messages home.