Michael A. Miranda stars here as Stephen Tsepes, a centuries-old vampire who works what would seem to be an ideal job for a blood sucker: a cab driver who strictly works the graveyard shift. His victims are women whom he determines are in their "cycle of death"; he refers to them as his lovers. Unfortunately, because he's not really finishing them off, they're all out and about committing homicide. Meanwhile, a music video director named Michelle Hayden (Helen Papas) who's dying of an unidentified disease and whose husband is unfaithful finds herself falling for the vampire.
"Graveyard Shift" (a more appropriate title than "Central Park Drifter", since not much of the story actually has anything to do with C.P.) is an engaging horror-drama. It's a Canadian product filmed entirely in Toronto. It's got some gore, some sexy ladies dressed provocatively, decent atmosphere, and that appealing love story at the centre. While it's obviously quite low budget, and while some viewers may find issue with the script, it's still pretty watchable, with two solid performances by Miranda and Papas to help it along. Certainly, its variation on the standard vampire movie formula makes it somewhat interesting. It's very "'80s" in its presentation, considering hairstyles and wardrobes, and the repetitive but catchy rock songs on the soundtrack. But that just adds to the amusement factor for anybody who grew up during that era.
Besides, the fact that the character of Michelles' husband Eric (Cliff Stoker) is a womanizer and something of a jerk presents a funny conundrum: although he turns into a dime-store version of Van Helsing for the finale, viewers might not be sure who to root for since Stephen typically comes off as more sympathetic. As a parting note, buffs will enjoy the fact that a minor character is named "Marlo Bava".
Followed by "The Understudy: Graveyard Shift 2".
Seven out of 10.
"Graveyard Shift" (a more appropriate title than "Central Park Drifter", since not much of the story actually has anything to do with C.P.) is an engaging horror-drama. It's a Canadian product filmed entirely in Toronto. It's got some gore, some sexy ladies dressed provocatively, decent atmosphere, and that appealing love story at the centre. While it's obviously quite low budget, and while some viewers may find issue with the script, it's still pretty watchable, with two solid performances by Miranda and Papas to help it along. Certainly, its variation on the standard vampire movie formula makes it somewhat interesting. It's very "'80s" in its presentation, considering hairstyles and wardrobes, and the repetitive but catchy rock songs on the soundtrack. But that just adds to the amusement factor for anybody who grew up during that era.
Besides, the fact that the character of Michelles' husband Eric (Cliff Stoker) is a womanizer and something of a jerk presents a funny conundrum: although he turns into a dime-store version of Van Helsing for the finale, viewers might not be sure who to root for since Stephen typically comes off as more sympathetic. As a parting note, buffs will enjoy the fact that a minor character is named "Marlo Bava".
Followed by "The Understudy: Graveyard Shift 2".
Seven out of 10.