Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)

Elevator Pitch: Dylan Dog is a detective in the world of vampires, werewolves and zombies which exists under the surface in New Orleans. He has a friend, Marcus, who would like to be his assistant. Dylan is called to the side of a young woman, Elizabeth, whose father has been killed by a werewolf. In time Elizabeth shows Dylan a photo of an object called “The Heart” which is a cross like artefact capable apparently of creating the persona of a demon if the point of the cross pierces the body of a vampire. Meanwhile Marcus has been bitten by a zombie and turns into a zombie himself and is promoted to being Dylan’s assistant. The role he has always wanted. But the “Heart” is still out there. Can Dylan find it, and what will be the result?

Content: There is no sex or nudity, although Dylan and Elizabeth are seen almost in bed together. There is a lot of stumbling about in the dark and Dylan is attacked at times by a variety of the undead. He has weapons capable of dealing with them which appears to be a British Webley revolver which can be loaded with silver bullets for some and with wooden bullets for others. There are a lot of zombies working in conventional roles, noticeably behind the counters of burger bars where they offer Marcus maggot burgers, because that’s what zombies eat, apart from each other.

A View: This film was generally disliked by everybody, with particularly unpleasant reviews from the critics who were familiar with the Italian comic character. But I thought that the casting of Brandon Routh, still really looking like superman, was inspired. He really looks like a comic book detective. If anything the plot was far too complex, since it was necessary for the characters to keep telling us what was going on, and some of the action seemed to be breaking its own rules. But, honestly, I have seen a lot worse. 

Additional Info: Those of you wondering who the hell Anita Briem who played Elizabeth  is, can be informed that she is Icelandic and was Jane Seymour in The Tudors.