“The Breed” (2001) starring Adrian Paul, Bokeem Woodbine and Bai Ling / Z-View

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The Breed (2001)

Director: Michael Oblowitz

Screenplay: Christos N. Gage, Ruth Fletcher

Stars: Adrian Paul, Bokeem Woodbine, Bai Ling, James Booth, Ming Lo, Paul Collins, Reed Diamond, John Durbin, Zen Gesner and William Hootkins.

Tagline: Vampires Live Amongst Us

The Plot…

Another time.  Another place.

Detective Stephen Grant’s partner is killed when the two are following leads on a recent series of bizarre murders.  The murderer, a tale pale man, is shot several times to no effect.  The killer escapes by climbing up a sheer building wall.

After Detective Grant files his report, he is brought in for a secret meeting.  Grant learns that the killer is a vampire.  Although reluctant to believe, Grant is introduced to his new partner, Detective Aaron Gray.  Detective Gray is also a vampire.

Grant learns that vampires live among us.  Most want to live among humans in peace.  To that end, they have made themselves known  to government leaders.  However a minority of vampires don’t trust humans.  The murderer is one of them.

Grant and Gray are assigned to track down the serial killing vampire and put an end to him.  What Grant and Gray don’t know is that a conspiracy to wipe-out all vampires is being put in place by humans distrustful of the vampires’ intent.

Neither the humans plotting to kill all vampires nor the vampires distrustful of humans want Detectives Grant and Gray to succeed.

That makes them expendable.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I like the premise and setting of the film.  Vampires living among us and wanting a peaceful integration while some vampires and humans are fearful of that seems logical.  Having the film take place in a recognizable but slightly different future worked for me.

The Breed is an interesting mash-up of a buddy movies, conspiracy films, horror, a touch of romance, sci-fi, and alternate reality that just misses the mark for being better than good.  But good isn’t bad.  I enjoyed The Breed, but hoped it would be better.

The Breed (2001) rates 3 of 5 stars.