In this horrific film, his parents were killed by vampires. Now, Jack Crowe is trying to experience a new life experience by setting one goal in life and putting terror in the hearts of vampires. Jack must recover the ancient Catholic antiquities at that time as they seem to be very important because they are the ones who give vampires that power by carrying the sun.
The movie is basically one-note: A vampire is harpooned and dragged out into the daylight where the body instantly explodes into flames. Creativity in action, for sure.
Woods is entertaining as badass vampire hunter Jack Crow, but the meanness he exhibits toward his young priest assistant is offensive and completely unnecessary. Still, this is Carpenter's best film since the 1980s ended.
Film Journal International
January 01, 2000
You have to hand it to James Woods: He doesn't go out of his way to make himself likeable on screen.
...little more than an excuse to watch people kill each other in the most brutal possible ways.
Lessons of Darkness
June 05, 2011
A suspense-free snark-fest desperate to turn its protagonist - vampire slayer Jack Crow (James Woods) - into a Snake Plisskin-style icon of supernatural-badass cool.
