Alien at the Movies

Black as Night

It’s “Once Bitten” meets “Shawna the Vampire Slayer” meets “Shawna of the Undead” meets “Daybreakers” when a 15-year-old New Orleans black girl Shawna is attacked by homeless vampires & loses her drug addict mother. This comedy horror film pokes fun of its vampire genre while featuring diversity & a Black experience twist. It’s also a coming of age story as shy Shawna gains her confidence, pals around with her gay Mexican immigrant bestie Pedro, & develops a relationship with her crush. The film is entertaining, but not really scary as it paints its version of vampire myths or truths with a political homelessness backdrop.

Alien gives it 2½ “Red Escalade” stars out of 4.