Blade (1998)

Last updated:
October 22, 2024

Blade is a 1998 superhero film directed by Stephen Norrington, based on the Marvel Comics character Blade, played by Wesley Snipes. As one of the earliest successful Marvel adaptations, it helped pave the way for future superhero films with its dark tone, stylized action, and a unique mix of horror and action.

Detailed Summary

Opening: Blade’s Origin

The film begins with the tragic backstory of Eric Brooks, aka Blade. Born in 1967, his mother was attacked and bitten by a vampire while pregnant, and she seemingly died during childbirth. As a result, Blade inherits all of a vampire’s strengths (enhanced strength, agility, and regenerative abilities) but none of their weaknesses, except for a strong thirst for blood. This makes him a “Daywalker”—immune to sunlight and garlic. Raised by his mentor, Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), Blade dedicates his life to hunting vampires.

The Infamous Blood Rave Scene

One of the movie’s most iconic scenes takes place in a nightclub called a “blood rave,” where vampires party and shower in blood. Blade arrives in the middle of the chaos, mercilessly slaughtering vampires with a mix of martial arts, firearms, and his iconic sword. This sequence introduces the film’s gritty tone and shows just how deadly Blade can be.

The Main Villain: Deacon Frost

Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) is a rebellious young vampire who rejects the vampire council’s conservative ways. He seeks to dominate humanity by resurrecting La Magra, the Blood God, a powerful entity that would give vampires control over the world. Frost’s vision contrasts with the traditionalist elders, who prefer keeping vampires hidden in society. This sets up the main conflict of the movie.

Blade Meets Dr. Karen Jenson

While on a vampire hunt, Blade rescues Dr. Karen Jenson (N’Bushe Wright), a hematologist, after she is bitten by a vampire. Instead of killing her, Blade and Whistler treat her with a serum that prevents her from fully turning. Karen becomes an ally, helping Blade research vampire weaknesses and develop new weapons. This subplot explores Blade’s internal struggle between his human side and the vampire side he despises.

Frost’s Plan and the Vampire Nation

As Frost attempts to unlock the ritual to summon La Magra, Blade and Karen work to stop him. Frost kidnaps Blade’s mother, revealing that she has been alive all along as a vampire under his control. This revelation shakes Blade to his core, making the final confrontation with Frost personal as well as apocalyptic.

The Climactic Showdown: Blade vs. Deacon Frost

In the final act, Frost completes the ritual, temporarily becoming La Magra. In an epic fight, Blade faces him in a tomb surrounded by vampire cultists. Blade uses a special serum that causes vampires to explode, allowing him to defeat Frost in an over-the-top action sequence.

Movie Ending

The film ends with Blade defeating Deacon Frost and stopping his plan to unleash the Blood God. Blade reconciles with his past, accepting his role as a protector of humanity from the vampire threat. In the closing scene, we see Blade continuing his vampire hunting, now in Moscow, as the vampire war is far from over.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Blade does not have a traditional post-credits scene, but there was originally an alternate ending that was filmed, where a shadowy figure—later revealed as Michael Morbius (a Spider-Man villain and a vampire in Marvel comics)—watches Blade. This was intended to set up future films but was ultimately cut from the theatrical release.

Type of Movie

Blade is a superhero action-horror film with elements of martial arts and vampire lore. It is known for its R-rated action sequences, mixing supernatural elements with gritty, street-level vigilantism.

Cast

Wesley Snipes as Blade
Stephen Dorff as Deacon Frost
Kris Kristofferson as Abraham Whistler
N’Bushe Wright as Dr. Karen Jenson
Donal Logue as Quinn
Udo Kier as Vampire Elder Dragonetti

Film Music and Composer

The music for Blade was composed by Mark Isham, blending electronic music and orchestral sounds to create a dark and intense atmosphere. The soundtrack is iconic for its combination of techno and industrial beats, fitting the film’s stylish, modern approach to the vampire genre.

Filming Locations

Los Angeles, California: The film was primarily shot in LA, using various urban landscapes to represent the gritty, vampire-infested underworld of the city.
Griffith Observatory: A key location in the film where Blade confronts vampires in the climax.

These locations are crucial to giving Blade its dystopian, neo-noir feel, presenting the vampire world as hidden beneath the surface of modern society.

Awards and Nominations

While Blade didn’t receive major award nominations, it became a cult classic over time and is credited with kickstarting the modern superhero film genre. It was particularly noted for its groundbreaking action sequences and visual effects, receiving praise in various genre-specific awards.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Wesley Snipes was deeply involved in his fight choreography and martial arts sequences, as he is a trained martial artist.
The film was almost an R-rated disaster, but reshoots saved the final act, tightening the pace and improving the action.
Stan Lee was supposed to have a cameo in the movie as a cop, but his scene was cut.
The original ending involving La Magra as a tornado of blood was changed due to test audience reactions, as they found it too confusing.

Inspirations and References

Blade is based on the Marvel Comics character created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan. The film takes inspiration from the 1970s comic but updates the character for a modern audience. It also draws on classic vampire myths, blending them with a futuristic, comic-book aesthetic.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Alternate Ending: The original ending featured a blood tornado, as Deacon Frost’s transformation into La Magra was much more elaborate. Test audiences found it underwhelming, so the final fight was reshot to focus on Blade’s hand-to-hand combat with Frost.
Deleted Scenes: Several scenes were cut to improve pacing, including an extended subplot about Blade’s blood serum and Whistler’s backstory.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no direct novelization of the Blade movie, but the character’s origin in the comics differs slightly. In the comics, Blade originally had fewer powers and relied more on his martial arts skills and weapons than in the film, where he has more supernatural abilities.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The blood rave where Blade first appears, showcasing his deadly combat skills.
The showdown between Blade and Frost, where Blade uses his exploding serum.
The moment Blade finds out that his mother is alive and a vampire under Frost’s control.

Iconic Quotes

Blade: “Some motherf***ers are always trying to ice skate uphill.”
Deacon Frost: “We should be ruling the humans, not running around making back-alley treaties with them.”
Whistler: “Catch you f***ers at a bad time?”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The glyphs seen throughout the vampire council chambers are based on various ancient and fictional alphabets, adding to the mystical feel of the vampire lore.
Blade’s iconic sword is heavily inspired by traditional samurai katanas, blending Eastern and Western fighting styles.
There’s a small nod to Morbius, a villain from Spider-Man’s universe, foreshadowing the larger Marvel universe, though the idea wasn’t followed up in sequels.

Trivia

Wesley Snipes had a major influence on the character’s design, insisting that Blade should wear all black with a leather trench coat, establishing his iconic look.
The film was originally envisioned as a much smaller production, but its success paved the way for the rise of Marvel movies.
Stephen Norrington turned down the chance to direct the sequel.

Why Watch?

If you’re a fan of vampires, martial arts, and superhero action, Blade is a must-watch. It’s gritty, violent, and stylish, with Wesley Snipes delivering a career-defining performance. The film blends horror and action in a way that feels fresh, especially for its time.