RESURRECTION ROAD: You've Seen Worse

RESURRECTION ROAD (Blu-ray)

2025 / 77 min

Well Go USA

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

While Resurrection Road is the second historically-based vampire movie released this year to feature a primarily African-American cast, don’t go in expecting another Sinners. This one is a low budget quickie with little else on its mind but bloodsucking and gory kills. But since it’s more of a horror-western, I wouldn’t consider it a rip-off, and with tempered expectations, there are worse ways to get your vampire fix.

Set during the Civil War, Barabbas (Malcolm Goodwin) is a condemned soldier offered a choice, lead a black battalion to destroy the guns at an enemy fortress, or be executed. Naturally, he accepts what’s essentially a suicide mission, especially after they discover the area is crawling with vampires. And not just any vampires…these bloodsuckers are the same confederates that attacked them in the woods on the way there. Worse yet, the head vampire, Quantrill (Michael Madsen), happens to be the officer who murdered Barabbas’ wife.

Hat envy.

Though never particularly scary or atmospheric, Resurrection Road boasts decent overall performances and some fun scenes of violent action (with pretty good make-up effects). There’s nothing here that’ll knock anyone’s socks off, but it’s proficiently directed, fast paced, and with a very brief running time, doesn’t stick around long enough to wear out its welcome.

Fans of the late Michael Madsen should be advised…despite prominent billing, he’s hardly in the movie at all and doesn’t exactly light up the screen when he finally does show up. However, Resurrection Road is the last movie to be released while he was alive, which might ultimately be what it’ll be remembered for. But for a low budget film destined to dwell in the lower reaches of a streaming menu, it’s an enjoyable enough time killer.