Day Shift (2022) Movie Review

Dollar theaters were once popular among movie-goers who could watch movies for a lower price after their initial release. Despite the often poor quality of the prints and sound, the cheap admission fee and atmosphere made them a haven for low-budget genre films such as R-rated horror, science fiction, and action movies, as well as smutty teen comedies and erotic thrillers. However, the rise of video rental stores in the 1990s caused the decline of dollar theaters.

The straight-to-Netflix horror comedy "Day Shift" is a film that belongs in a different kind of theater. Its flaws would be less noticeable in a packed house full of paying customers who are eager to watch something that pushes their buttons. This is a movie that elicits excitement, fright, or amusement, and viewers talk back to the screen. The film features Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski, a working-class Los Angeles pool cleaner who hunts vampires to sell their teeth for cash, and Snoop Dogg as his mentor Big John Elliott. Bud is a struggling divorced father, and the first part of the movie centers around his attempt to accumulate and sell more teeth to earn $10,000 in less than a week to pay his mortgage, his daughter's private school tuition, and prevent his wife from moving away.

In the meantime, a conspiracy is brewing in the City of Angels, led by Audrey San Fernando, a centuries-old Mexican-American vampire who is the public face of a real estate empire. She fixates on Bud because he killed an old lady vampire in the film's opening fight sequence and extracted her teeth. "Day Shift" is a horror-comedy that takes inspiration from "R.I.P.D.," "Shaun of the Dead," and its dollar theater predecessors, such as "Fright Night," "The Kiss," and "Return of the Living Dead." It has familiar tropes and cliches, half-assed banter, and varying levels of quality. However, the film is made with skill and features an impressive cast that balances humor and horror. The first half of the movie may seem tediously familiar, but first-time feature filmmaker J.J. Perry keeps things chugging along and stages the mayhem with flair and humor. The movie improves in the second half, when Bud and Audrey's stories begin to intertwine, and it finds the right balance of deadpan comedy, supernatural brawls, gunplay, car chases, and gore. Overall, "Day Shift" is an exuberantly goofy and entertaining movie that is worth watching.

Despite some flaws, "Day Shift" is an enjoyable ride that will entertain horror fans who are looking for a lighthearted and action-packed movie. The film's cast delivers engaging performances, particularly Jamie Foxx, who brings charm and humor to the role of Bud. Snoop Dogg is also entertaining as Big John, and the supporting cast, including Meagan Good and Karla Souza, add depth and complexity to the story.

Overall, "Day Shift" is a fun and entertaining movie that will appeal to fans of horror-comedy. While it may not reach the heights of some of the genre's classics, it is a well-made and enjoyable film that will satisfy those looking for a good time at the movies. And who knows, maybe someday it will find its way onto the screen of a dollar theater, where it can be enjoyed as part of a raucous and enthusiastic crowd.