Day Shift is a fast-paced, blood-soaked action comedy that mixes vampire lore with buddy-cop energy and Netflix-style spectacle. Directed by J.J. Perry, a legendary stunt coordinator, the film proudly wears its genre influences on its sleeve and prioritizes fun, violence, and momentum over subtlety.
Detailed Summary
A Vampire Hunter with a Day Job
Bud Jablonski (Jamie Foxx) is a blue-collar vampire hunter living in Los Angeles. By day, he pretends to clean pools; by night, he hunts vampires for money, collecting fangs as proof of kills. His motivation is painfully simple and very human: he needs money to support his daughter and prevent his wife from moving away.
However, Bud has been blacklisted by the International Union of Vampire Hunters due to past insubordination, forcing him to work freelance and earn far less than union members.
Enter the Union and the Buddy Dynamic
Desperate for cash, Bud convinces the Union to let him back in on a probationary basis. The catch: he must work with a Union observer, Seth (Dave Franco), an anxious, rule-following desk worker who has never seen real combat.
This pairing creates the film’s core dynamic. Bud is reckless, experienced, and cynical. Seth is terrified, overly polite, and obsessed with rules. Their mismatched personalities drive much of the comedy while also allowing the audience to learn vampire lore organically.
Vampire Lore, Rules, and Hierarchies
The film establishes a surprisingly detailed vampire ecosystem. Vampires are divided into classes, with ancient “Uber Vampires” being stronger, smarter, and nearly unkillable. They can walk in daylight, manipulate humans, and operate sophisticated criminal networks.
Bud discovers that Los Angeles is being quietly taken over by vampires led by Audrey San Fernando (Karla Souza), a powerful real estate mogul with a secret agenda. Her goal is not just survival, but domination.
The Threat Escalates
As Bud and Seth hunt vampires across the city, the body count rises and Seth is forced to confront the brutal reality of the job. He slowly transforms from a nervous bureaucrat into a capable fighter, earning Bud’s respect.
At the same time, Bud’s family situation worsens. His wife Jocelyn plans to move to Florida with their daughter unless Bud can provide stability. This personal pressure mirrors the larger threat looming over the city.
Allies, Betrayals, and Hidden Enemies
Bud reconnects with Big John Elliott (Snoop Dogg), an old hunting partner who operates independently. Meanwhile, the Union itself proves unreliable, riddled with corruption and incompetence.
Audrey reveals her full plan: she has been buying up property across Los Angeles to establish vampire safe zones, effectively turning the city into a vampire-controlled stronghold. Humans, as she sees it, are livestock.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Audrey launches a coordinated attack on the Union headquarters, slaughtering hunters and asserting her dominance. Big John is seemingly killed during an ambush, a moment that hits Bud hard and raises the emotional stakes.
Bud and Seth infiltrate Audrey’s mansion for the final confrontation. Seth is captured and bitten, seemingly turning into a vampire. Audrey reveals herself as an Uber Vampire, immune to many traditional weaknesses.
A brutal showdown follows. Bud uses his experience, unconventional weapons, and sheer determination to fight Audrey. At the last moment, Seth reappears, revealing that he did turn into a vampire, but retained his humanity and loyalty. His transformation gives him enhanced strength, allowing him to help Bud kill Audrey.
The twist doesn’t end there. Big John is revealed to be alive and also an Uber Vampire, having hidden his true nature for years. He survived the earlier attack and returns just in time to help clean up the remaining enemies.
With Audrey defeated, the vampire takeover collapses. Bud earns enough money and credibility to reunite with his family, preventing them from moving away. Seth is accepted as both a hunter and a vampire, setting up a new status quo where the lines between monster and human are blurred.
The ending strongly implies future adventures, with Bud, Seth, and Big John forming an unconventional team.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes. There is a post-credits scene that confirms Big John is alive and leaning fully into his Uber Vampire identity, reinforcing sequel potential and expanding the mythology.
Type of Movie
Day Shift is an action-comedy horror film that blends vampire mythology with buddy-cop humor, delivering stylized violence and fast pacing rather than scares.
Cast
- Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski
- Dave Franco as Seth
- Snoop Dogg as Big John Elliott
- Karla Souza as Audrey San Fernando
- Meagan Good as Jocelyn Jablonski
- Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Heather
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Tyler Bates, known for his work on John Wick and Guardians of the Galaxy. The music leans heavily into pulsating action rhythms, while the soundtrack features hip-hop and funk elements that complement the Los Angeles setting and Bud’s personality.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California, using real neighborhoods, suburban homes, and industrial areas.
These locations matter because:
- They ground the supernatural story in a familiar, everyday city.
- The contrast between normal suburban life and underground vampire warfare enhances the film’s humor.
- LA’s sprawl supports the idea of vampires hiding in plain sight.
Awards and Nominations
Day Shift did not receive major awards but was noted for:
- Stunt coordination
- Fight choreography
- Action design within streaming releases
It gained a strong cult following among action fans.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- J.J. Perry made his directorial debut, bringing decades of stunt experience.
- Many fight scenes were designed to be performed practically, not just enhanced by CGI.
- Jamie Foxx insisted on doing a significant portion of his own action work.
- Vampire deaths were intentionally exaggerated to feel comic-book-like rather than horrific.
- The film’s lore bible was developed early to support potential sequels.
Inspirations and References
- Blade trilogy
- John Wick (gun-fu and clean action staging)
- Classic vampire lore mixed with modern crime thrillers
- Los Angeles noir aesthetics
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several deleted scenes reportedly expanded:
- Audrey’s backstory and rise to power
- Seth’s internal struggle after being bitten
Alternate endings explored a darker fate for Seth, but test audiences preferred the more optimistic, sequel-friendly conclusion.
Book Adaptations and Differences
This film is not based on a book or comic, but it borrows heavily from established vampire fiction tropes and action-movie storytelling conventions.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The opening pool-cleaning vampire ambush
- Bud and Seth’s first disastrous hunt together
- Big John’s neighborhood defense sequence
- The mansion finale against Audrey
Iconic Quotes
- “You’re not scared. You’re just new.”
- “Vampires don’t own this city. People do.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Vampire classification charts reference classic horror archetypes.
- Union rules subtly parody corporate bureaucracy.
- Several background vampires resemble classic movie monsters.
- Big John’s weapon stash includes nods to famous vampire films.
Trivia
- The fang-collection system was inspired by old bounty hunter movies.
- Over 90 unique vampire death effects were created.
- The film was shot in under three months.
- Snoop Dogg helped shape Big John’s dialogue.
Why Watch?
If you enjoy stylish action, sharp violence, and unapologetic genre fun, Day Shift is a great choice. It doesn’t pretend to be deep, but it knows exactly what it is and delivers with confidence.
Director’s Other Works
J.J. Perry (primarily stunt work):
- John Wick (2014) – Stunt performer
- F9: The Fast Saga (2021) – Stunt coordinator
- The Fate of the Furious (2017) – Stunt coordinator
