‘The sun never sets on evil’
Sunrise is a 2024 mystery horror film about a man who roams the land as a creature of the night after the tragic loss of his family at the hands of a brutal demagogue.
Directed by Andrew Baird (One Way; Zone 414) from a screenplay written by Ronan Blaney (Don’t Go; Love Bite). Produced by Martin Brennan, Ford Corbett, Nathan Klingher, and Jib Polhemus.
The American-British movie stars Guy Pearce (Ravenous), Alex Pettyfer, Olwen Fouéré, Kurt Yaeger, William Gao, Crystal Yu and Forrest Bothwell
Plot:
When an ex-cop named Fallon (Alex Pettyfer) returns to the scene of a horrific crime, the residents of a rural town in Northern Ireland soon discover that this dark visitor is a vampire who feeds on blood and fear. After he is befriended by a kind immigrant family, the instinctive killer is faced with a choice between revenge and redemption…
Reviews:
“Perhaps most surprisingly, Sunrise is not a bad movie. It is meandering and confusing, but the straightforward approach prevents things from ever becoming outright horrible. There are a lot of good ideas, the script is just never to tie them all together. And wouldn’t you know it? It almost pulls off that satisfying payoff.” AIPT
“I do wonder why most of the story (by far!) takes place in the present when we all sense that the real issue was in the past. Sure, it’s mysterious and intriguing. However, once we finally get to the bottom of it all, it seems like the movie is already over. This doesn’t make the movie bad, but it results in an overall experience that feels lacking.” ★★★ Heaven of Horror
” …the final film’s pacing is so deliberate and restrained, it is debatable whether Sunrise can be properly categorized as horror. The burn is definitely slow in this one. On the other hand, the atmosphere and grim sense of place is highly potent.” J.B. Spins
“Genre fans may not instantly cling to Sunrise. Some gore fleetingly shows face, but flashy deaths and non-stop action are not in this flick’s wheelhouse. Instead, Sunrise gets lifted up by excellent character work, an outsider approach, visually lush flashes of the macabre, and a complete narrative experience.” ★★★½ Josh at the Movies
” …the story is a long wait for an inevitable standoff between our bland heroes, despite the supernatural element of one of them, and a villain who receives so many monologues, so much screen time, and a back story of such familial torment that he might as well be the main character here. Sunrise has a clear point to make, and beyond the laborious pacing, that attention to this character at the expense of the others is a massive miscalculation.” ★½ out of ★★★★ Mark Reviews Movies
“Sunrise is an engaging blend of horror, drama, and social commentary. It stands out for its unique take on mythology, compelling character arcs, and a storyline that combines suspense with emotional depth. While not flawless, it offers a thought-provoking experience and is a notable addition to the genre. Most horror fans will be able to find something they appreciate in the film…” ★★★ Overly Honest Movie Reviews
“The film has many layered themes culturally, politically and socially that are exposed rather well, seeing as they are set in a vampire film, illuminating the malignance of xenophobia. A mystical trip into a bloody battle to belong, Sunrise is a well-acted, beautifully shot piece of horror that delivers both fresh and familiar bloody legends of vampirism.” Warped Perspective
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Pain of burning flesh clip:
Release:
In the US, Sunrise is released by Lionsgate theatrically in select locations and on VOD on January 19, 2024.
Technical specs:
1 hour 24 minutes
Aspect ratio: 1.78: 1
More Andrew Baird movies:
ONE WAY (2022) Reviews of crime thriller with Colson Baker and Kevin Bacon
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