Netflix - Vampires Vs The Bronx

Vampires Vs The Bronx - Review

     By. Justin Azevedo

Synopsis: In the neighborhood of the Bronx, Three Teenagers, Miguel Martinez (Played by. Jaden Michael), Bobby Carter (Played by. Gerald Jones III) and Luis Acosta (Played by. Gregory Diaz IV) along with Rita (Played by. Coco Jones), come together and have to save their neighborhood when, Vampires invade!

     The film had a mix of many genre's, action, comedy, and drama, lacked a bit on the horror side. The Film greatly centered on the cultures of African American's and Latino American's. It also contained the many elements that a community like the Bronx faces, gang violence, troubled youths and more, but also shows community coming together.

     The Film centers around Three kids, Miguel who wants to keep the Neighborhood and all of its businesses as it is, as they have importance to the community, Bobby, who is facing personal issues, as he is being pressured be street gangs, and Luis who is the smart kid in the group. They learn that vampires have entered they're neighborhood and have plans to take control of it. They first step was in using a business tycoon to buy up all the important stores in the neighborhood, so they can use these location's as a way to increase their numbers. However Miguel and his friends put a block on those plans, as they took a important item that they needed. This leads to an all out war with the Bronx as the battleground. As the kids prepare for battle, they are joined by Rita, who then helps gather the rest of the community!

      Miguel Martinez (Played by. Jaden Michael), Is a young man who wants to spread awareness and try to save his favorite store "The Bodega" from being bought, as so many other shops have been (Unaware at the time, that Vampires have the the one's seizing those stores). He does this by orchestrating a Block Party. He is the first to learn of the existence of Vampires, after watching one of them kill a Gang Member. He tries to tell his friends and the owner of the Bodega, but had no proof. He then heads out to find proof, with his friends tagging along. He is the first to suspect the connection between the Vampires and the company that has been inserting itself in the Bronx. As he and his friends try to warn the neighborhood, it prove failure, as the proof they've acquired, is circumstantial and the one they suspected as the Head Vampire turns out to be human, it also leads him and his friends in trouble with the law and worst they're parents, this also creates a rift between Miguel and Bobby. Still determined to face the Vampires, he and Luis, work on acquiring, Holy Water while attending Church. During which they gain a new ally Rita (who Miguel has a crush on). Miguel and his friends suffer a serious blow when they arrive at the Bodega, boarded and under the control of the Vampires, upon further investigating, they learn that they're friend and father figure, Tony is gone. Upon returning home Miguel and his friends learn the true identity of the Head Vampire, finally convincing his mother. Even after the loss of a friend, Miguel gains, the courage and strength to continue the fight, with his friends crafting weapons to face the Vampire's. He leads them to they're den and manages to take down a few, but soon found themselves corner. Upon escaping Miguel and Bobby face the Head Vampire on they're own, but soon having they're parents, friends and the Bronx Community. Miguel soon takes his bike and rides it like a steed, with a sharp bat as a lance and pierces the Head Vampire. Miguel show, great leadership in the film, as well as wanting to be a supporting member in the community of the Bronx. Though he also had his immature side, and that attraction towards an older female. But he shows that he is ready to fight for his neighborhood, whether it be spreading flyer's or actually fighting with wooden stakes, cause he knows that the people of the Bronx have great potential.

     Bobby Carter (Played by. Gerald Jones III), one of Miguel's best friends. He was the goofy bad boy of the group. Bobby was going through mix emotions in the film, he got kick out of school and he was hanging around with the local gang in the area a few times. Though he shows that he is ready to defend his friends, when one of the gang members was eyeing Luis. When Miguel was talking about Vampires, Bobby just thought he was acting crazy. Though after investigating, Bobby learns that it is true and helps Miguel find evidence of Vampires. Along the way Bobby was able to obtain an important item that the Vampires needed for their plans. However when investigating more, they got caught by the police, and returned to their families, this leads Bobby into trouble with his mother and created a rift between him and Miguel. We then learn, that Bobby's father was part of the gang, and was killed in a shoot out and because of it, this leads Bobby to have a bad reputation towards the rest of the community. Bobby refused to help Miguel further, and decides to take part in a job by the Gang (unaware that the job is in helping the vampires). However when Bobby was presented a firearm and was told about the target, he knew that the Vampires were involved, this leads him to abandon the gang and warn his friends. Upon reuniting there were still tension between Bobby and Miguel, but they put their differences aside, when they learn of the loss of their friend Tony. With a newfound drive to fight, Bobby help prepare his friends to face off against the Vampires. As they enter the Vampire's den, Bobby and Miguel were the first to take down a few Vampires. Upon escaping, they were stopped by Frank, but Bobby convinced him to turn his back on the Vampires, telling him that he will never be accepted by them, and it succeeds. Upon splitting up, Bobby and Miguel faced off against the Head Vampire, though they got taken down, but when joined by the rest of the community, they were given an upper hand. Bobby tried to finish the Head Vampire off, but got caught as was about to be turned into a Vampire himself, but Miguel save him. Bobby action gave him the respect of the Neighborhood and also made his mother proud!

     Luis Acosta (Played by. Gregory Diaz IV), the third member of the group, as well as the smartest, he's also is the most worried and frightful. He was the second, to see a Vampire, though he had his doubts on whether what he saw was real or not. Be that the case though, he still relay his knowledge on what he knew, that helped his friends get ready and also help finding proof. Through the film we learn that he lives with his Grandmother and like his friends, he got in trouble, when they're attempt to reveal the truth failed, making his Grandmother believe that he is possess and has to go to night church! Though his knowledge of Vampires ways, helped his friend realize that the one they suspected was actually a familiar. This leads Luis and Miguel, to grab holy water, though Luis points out that this was a huge sin they've committed. Like Miguel and Bobby, he shares the same hurt when they learn they're friend and father figure Tony was killed by the head Vampire. Even after this lost, Luis still wanted to continue the fight and he and his friends got ready to raid the Vampires Den. Luis faced off against one of the last vampires and killed him by offering him the "Body of Christ"! He then joined up with the rest of the neighborhood to face the Head Vampire. After the head Vampire's defeat, Luis was praised like his friends for his bravery, including from his Grandmother. 

     Rita (Played by. Coco Jones), is a older girl, who Miguel has a crush on. Her role in the film was minor in the beginning of the movie, hanging out with her friends and smirk when Miguel got embarrassed. When Miguel tried to show proof of Vampires, when he showed a video, but nothing was there, Rita was the one to point out that Vampires can not be video tape, cause they have no souls. Rita began to be more part of the group, when she saw Miguel and Luis sneaking around in church and confronted them. When they revealed what they know about Vampire's, Rita believed them saying that her Grandmother prepared her for when this day would come. Rita also felt saddened when they learned of the death of Tony, and joined the other to face the Vampire's. Rita then went to warn and gather reinforcements from the neighborhood, which she did and face the Head Vampire. Rita was impressed by Miguel's bravery and leadership, but still didn't view him as a romantic way. At the end she became a full member of the group!

     Vivian (Played by. Sarah Gadon), She is the Commander of the Vampire's that have invaded the Bronx and also the Master to Frank using his influence and company to seize control of the neighborhood. At the beginning of the film, she was believed to be just a new girl in the neighborhood, which shocked Miguel, Bobby and Luis as they wondered why a White girl would move to the Bronx. Vivian showed that she was a kind person and wanted to be part of the Community, even wanted to help by attending the Block Party that Miguel is throwing for the Bodega. It is then revealed that she works Franks company. It is soon revealed that she is a Vampire herself, when she came to the Bodega and waited until Tony invited her in. Vivian identity was soon learned by Miguel and his friends, when she helped them to his house, but did not enter, until she could be invited, but Miguel stopped this from happening, forcing her to reveal who she is, as the Commander, then retreated only to promise to return and kill all that he loves. As Vivian returned to her troops, she had Frank buy Miguel's building, making it her's (therefore no longer needs permission to enter any of the rooms), and planned to storm the Building and take the key that they need. However her plans change, When Miguel and his friends came to them and she was able to gain back her key and open the box, containing the Red dust that will help her create an army of Vampire, she also reveals that the reason she wants the Bronx as it is the perfect place to create an new colony, as the Bronx is a place that no one cares to take notice! She then chase after Miguel and Bobby and faced them with ease at first, only to have a little struggle when she face the rest of the neighborhood. Her end came when she grabbed Bobby and planned to turn him, only for Miguel to ride in and stabbed her with his Bat's sharp broken piece and Vivian turns to ash!

      Frank Polidori (Played by. Shea Whigham), he was a businessman who was buying up all the local shops in the Bronx, but was also a Familiar Servant to the Vampire Commander Vivian. At first Miguel suspected him to be the leader of the Vampires, but was proven wrong when he showed himself in daylight. Frank served Vivian, in hopes of becoming a Vampire himself and live for eternity, however his reward soon became in jeopardy when Miguel and his friends stood in the way. However through the encouragement of Bobby , who helped him realize that Frank will never be one of them, even with the gift, he still wouldn't be free and still serve Vivian forever! This made him betray Vivian and helped Miguel, Bobby and Luis escape, only for Vivian to kill him for this betrayal! 

     The Film's References and source on Vampires comes from the Marvel Movie Blade! The weaknesses of Vampires, the weapons needed to kill them, also when Vampire's die they turn to ash and at the end of the Film, Miguel referring to him and his Friends as DayWalker's like Blade (Though I think they fail to know that Blade is a Half Vampire and that's why he is known as the DayWalker)!

     My Rating for Vampires Vs The Bronx is... (Action & Funny)