Priest (2011)

Directed by Scott Stewart. Starring Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Christopher Plummer, Lily Collins, Brad Dourif, Stephen Moyer. [PG-13]

Yet another grim and grimy supernatural action/horror/sci-fi hybrid (from a barely-related Korean comic series), this one in the shopworn territory of “humanity vs. vampire scourge,” warring for centuries, a new threat and a final showdown and all that. Bettany is a Priest called Priest (the big ol’ cross painted across his brow and nose makes that hard to forget), an elite and humorless vampire killer searching for his kidnapped “niece” (Collins) in a bleak alternate/future world composed mostly of ash, dirt, smoke and ennui. The spark of creativity missing in the script unfortunately does not rear its head often in the art department either, as the aesthetic and design is rarely exciting (and never original), cobbling together its imagery and style from the post-apocalyptic, western, cyberpunk, and martial arts principles, most notably Underworld and Resident Evil. If that mash-up sounds divine, its grungy stew of leaden mythology, grotty action, and hoarsely-uttered dire tidings might be forgivable. All others best run for cover like a sensible bloodsucker come sun-up.

24/100