I finally got a chance to watch the hottest horror movie of the year (and I mean that in multiple ways.) It’s been a while since an original horror movie really took over theaters, so I absolutely couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this movie. (Vampiric pun intended.) I didn’t know exactly what to expect going in, but from the opening scene, I was hooked. So let’s get right into it!

The Good

#1– First, the music in this movie is astounding. There are a few songs, which I didn’t expect. At times, it even borders on “musical” territory. (And I will say: The last song probably could’ve been cut. I think it was one too many.) But outside of the musical numbers, the score to this movie is incredible. Ludwig Goransson always does well — Oppenheimer, Creed, etc — but this movie might be my favorite score from him.

At times, the movie’s tone gets confusing and the genres blend together (more on that in a minute), but the score keeps everything on track. A few moments, I wasn’t sure if they were supposed to be scary, sexy, lighthearted, and so forth, but the score keeps the audience engaged and also is one of the best I’ve ever heard. It alone is worth going to the theater for. (Although this movie does have some jaw-dropping cinematic moments.)

#2– Second, whoever initially had the idea to make a movie with two Michael B Jordans is a genius and probably deserves a raise. I wasn’t even a huge fan going into this movie, but he absolutely carries it at times. While I love the performance by Miles Caton as Sammie, the two Michael B Jordan characters are the heart and driving force of most scenes.

#3– Lastly, for almost all the characters, their development is fascinating and well-done. It’s not a long movie, and it feels even shorter, as the third act moves rapidly. But still, with limited screen time, all the characters feel well-rounded and engaging. Even the side characters are all very unique and offer a blend of humor, suspense, and romance.

The Bad

I’ll start by saying this movie is awesome! I’m giving it a good rating. But I do have a few things to nitpick.

#1– As far as characters go, the only one that felt off was Mary, played by Hailee Steinfield. There was a lot of symbolism with her character at various points in the movie, and I think at times it overwhelmed the actual story following her. Thankfully, she doesn’t play quite as big a role as I expected. When she is on screen, her role is never quite clear, including the post-credit scene. (Worth staying around for, by the way.)

#2– I already said this, but I’ll repeat it: The last song doesn’t need to happen… It’s a little bit too much. One too much. Oh well. I’ll survive, and the movie is still great.

#3– My last and final point: The movie at times is all over the place tonally. It’s absolutely supposed to be genre-bending, and it is. The New York Times described it as a “southern horror fantasia,” which sums it up well. My issue was the transition between these different vibes were sometimes rushed. It’s one of the rare movies where I wanted more movie, a longer runtime, not the opposite. Despite these at-times jarring changes, I enjoyed the overall vibe of the movie and the epic blending of genres.

Overall – 9/10

Overall, it’s an awesome movie! One of my favorite horror movies I’ve seen and probably going to be one of the best from this year. I was waiting for a 2025 movie to really blow me away, and this did it! I highly recommended seeing it in theaters, but even if not, it’s a must-watch!