Wolvesbayne

Jeremy London is a greedy real estate developer who falls victim to the curse of the werewolf. A lot of vampire backstory is discussed before the story gets off to an interesting start, but then plunges downhill in a bunch of vampire clichés that would embarrass Anne Rice.

The script is a muddled mess, full of full-blooded action scenes with predatory vampires guzzling on blood when they aren't trying to slay each other over the quest for some amulets. Everyone seems intent on overacting which only emphasizes the bad dialog.

In the course of learning how humans fight vampires on their own turf, our hero undergoes a reformation of sorts. He leaves us with the departing words: "There are more important things than making money. I'm off on a higher calling." Most outrageously hammy performance is delivered by YANCY BUTLER as Lilith. Most understated is RHETT GILES as Von Helsing.

As for Jeremy London, I couldn't help think what a strong resemblance he bears to Brendan Fraser. He's okay and even manages to get some humor from his role, but the characters are all cardboard and not really worth caring about.

Several hundred years ago the vampire Lilith (Yancy Butler) was banished into six amulets by her own kin, who were too disgusted by her vision of total dominance and human subservience. The council of vampires agreed to dispose of her threat, but a small following existed led by von Griem (Mark Dacascos) and this grouping is set to release her back onto humanity. Keeping watch over the peace is vampire-slayer extraordinaire Jacob van Helsing (Rhett Giles). Meanwhile hidden among humanity are werewolves like Alex Layton (Christy Carlson Romano), who are fully in control of their powers and transformations. Into the midst of all this comes mild mannered industrialist Russell Bayne (Jeremy London), who is trying to buy up Alex's small novelty shop for his new building project...

Really needn't waste to much time on pointing out the weak spots in this movie, as almost everything is quite pathetic. This especially goes for nonsensical plot point or characters as well as some very rushed soap-opera style build-up. Some scenes are OKish, but in general a hack-job is in progress trying to mimic and home in on the success of Underworld. To no avail. The characters are not as 'cool' and the action sequences are mostly disappointing. Even Dacascos is severely misused and although he shows his potential in one or two scenes most of his fights are an anticlimax, as he has to cope with ultrabad screen partners.

Any good points? Most actors manage to pull off a decent performance with Dacascos and Butler showing real promise (even though the really clichéd the role). The werewolf transformation was rather good and one vampiress is really sexy...

And that's it folks... Really - if you have any say in the matter pass on this movie.

Which goes for the plot, but also for the fact, that guy like Marc Dacascos would sign up for something like this. Of course it might have sounded better on paper (script). Still, if this were your first movie to see with him, you'd be excused if you thought, he shouldn't ever act again. That he actually has something to say, and also is not that bad in fighting (in movies), would be a fact that you'd miss out on. Maybe you should rent "Drive" instead.

Apart from the thin characters and the very cliché story (no surprises here), there's also the weak FX and the poor production values. While everyone is of course trying to do there best, there is quite a few other films out there, that are worth to be noticed.

I have to say that the movie's cover really permeated low budget rubbish. Yet, I still opted to watch it, solely on account of it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen. Sure, I harbored zero expectations to director Griff Furst's 2009 movie. And the staggering 3.7 rating the movie had landed, when I sat down to watch it, just didn't exactly do anything to cement any hopes for a good movie.

Well, color me impressed, because the movie certainly turned out to be way better than I had anticipated. So thumbs up to writer Leigh Scott for managing to put together an enjoyable script and storyline. Just a shame that the movie comes wrapped in such an amateurish and low budget appearing cover. I have to admit that I was genuinely adequately entertained throughout the course of the 92 minutes that the movie ran for. Sure, it was not on the same scale as "Underworld", but it definitely was entertaining.

The movie does, surprisingly enough have the likes of Mark Dacascos, Yancy Butler, Rhett Giles and Jeremy London on the cast list, so there are some familiar faces in the movie. The acting performances in the movie were good.

The effects in the movie weren't exactly great, but at least they weren't among the worst of special effects I've seen in similar movies.

If you enjoy vampire and werewolf movies, then this 2009 movie is actually worth checking out.

My rating of director Griff Furst's 2009 movie "Wolvesbayne" lands on a five out of ten stars.

In 1887, the powerful vampire Lilith (Yancy Butler) is vanquished by a vampire council and four amulets avoid her return to the world of living. In the present days, the greedy Realtor Russel Bayne (Jeremy London) is pressing Alex Layton (Christy Romano) to sell her store of esoteric products to him. While driving back home, Russel stops his Ferrari to help a young woman that has troubles with her Volkswagen Beetle in a lonely road. However, they are attacked by a werewolf and Russel transforms into one a couple of nights later. Meanwhile, a vampire clan led by the evil Von Griem (Mark Dacascos) is retrieving the ancient amulets to bring Lilith back. When Von Griem's minions try to abduct Russel, Alex helps him and Russel teams up with Jacob Van Helsing (Rhett Giles) and his peer group to avoid the return of the devilish Lilith.

"Wolvesbayne" is a flawed but entertaining vampire movie that seems to be the pilot of a TV series. The story has a promising beginning, but suddenly the plot becomes a collection of clichés and special effects. The prosthesis of vampire teeth seems to be bothering Mark Dacascos and his grimaces and Yancy Butler is unrecognizable with a terrible performance. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Anjo das Trevas" ("Angel of the Darkness")