Dylan Dog: Dead of Night

  • Review Date: May 2, 2011
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Horror
  • 2011
Review

Common Sense Media says

Violent detective/horror/comedy combo wastes a good idea.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this comic book-based detective story about a human in charge of keeping tabs on a community of vampires, werewolves, and zombie in New Orleans has both horror and comedy elements. There's strong monster violence and fighting; scenes include guns, knives, dead bodies, and blood. There's a bit of minor sensuality (characters kiss and wake up in bed together, but no sensitive body parts are shown) and some swearing (including "s--t"). A fictitious drug, vampire blood, is part of the plot, and viewers see minor characters going through withdrawals and "shooting up."

  • Positive messages0
    The material is bit dark here, but it's more harmless than harmful. Though the hero is sad and withdrawn (as well as a bit cynical and sometimes not very nice), he manages to overcome a past personal tragedy. As a result, he's able to cleverly solve a sticky and mysterious problem.
  • Positive role models0
    Dylan Dog is like a private eye character, with all that that entails. He's cynical and a bit withdrawn, suffering from a painful past. Sometimes he's not entirely nice to others, although he does seem to have a genuine friendship with some of his contacts. When a new mystery presents itself, he eventually takes the opportunity to overcome his hang-ups and use his skill and knowledge to help.
  • Violence4
    Lots of fighting and monster violence, with werewolves, zombies, and vampires, as well as some giant monsters. Guns are drawn and fired, and viewers see lots of dead bodies and blood (some of the dead bodies come back to life). Some severed body parts are shown. One character is buried alive, and one vampire is burned in the sunlight. Most of this is presented with a light, comic tone.
  • Sex2
    A couple kisses and wakes up in bed together, partially clothed; the male hero appears shirtless, and sex is suggested. Some scantily clad women dancing in a night club. A brief discussion of cheating spouses.
  • Language3
    A few of uses of "s--t," as well as "bitch," "boning," "damn," "goddamn," "hooker," "ass," "oh my God," "crap," and "hell."
  • Consumerism2
    One sequence includes an obvious reference to Apple computers, with shots of a laptop and an iPhone and the brand name "Apple" spoken out loud.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Club-goers are addicted to vampire blood, and viewers see symptoms of withdrawals and "shooting up." One of the movie's main bad guys deals this drug to his customers.
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What's the story?

Dylan Dog (Brandon Routh) is a detective working on infidelity cases in New Orleans alongside his wisecracking assistant, Marcus (Sam Huntington). But his true calling is to keep tabs on the city's secret community of monsters (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc.). A gruesome murder committed by a werewolf and a stolen artifact -- not to mention the murder victim's pretty daughter, Elizabeth (Anita Briem) -- reluctantly bring Dylan out of retirement. He must re-enter the underworld, re-connect with his old contacts (Peter Stormare, Taye Diggs, and more), navigate a complex mystery, and hopefully find a solution before an even bigger, deadlier monster is unleashed.

Is it any good?

 

Directed by Kevin Munroe (TMNT), DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT kicks off with a great idea -- combining the old-style detective genre with popular monsters -- but for having such an inspired start, the movie feels oddly uninspired. The mystery isn't very hard to figure out, the comedy isn't very funny, and the monsters aren't very scary; even the visual effects show little imagination. Munroe never conjures up anything remotely scary, and his action scenes are lumpy and sluggish.

Routh is slowly beginning to demonstrate some of the personality he was lacking in Superman Returns, and his character is mostly interesting, despite some bumps in logic; Dylan begins the movie as a slob but quickly changes over to a sleek, black wardrobe once he takes on the new mystery. Perhaps a better movie could have done some justice to this potentially appealing character, but this isn't it.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the movie's monster-related violence and fighting. Is the movie scary? How does the movie's often-comic tone affect the impact of the violence?

  • How successfully does this movie combine three genres: the detective movie, the horror movie, and the comedy? Was the mystery intriguing? Were the monsters scary? Was the movie funny?

  • Is Dylan a good role model, or is he more of an antihero? What are his good traits? What could he do better?

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Teen, 16 years old
June 3, 2011
AGE
15
 
10 so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so good but did not seen it already
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (30) | Had useful details (32) | Read my mind (33)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 13 years old
June 21, 2011
AGE
10
 
A WASTE OF TIME!
I rented the dvd. This movie was one of the most painful experiences sitting through a movie i've had. While i was watching it i felt like i was looking at a blank screen. One good thing i can say was that Dylan's dead/alive friend was really funny. For me this was a waste of time and when it was over i was glad and took the dvd out quick. It's not even exciting which was what i wanted it to be. Don't get fooled by the ads on TV
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (31) | Had useful details (28) | Read my mind (27)
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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Studio:Freestyle Releasing
Director:Kevin Munroe
Cast:Anita Briem, Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Taye Diggs
Genre:Horror
Run time:107 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 29, 2011
DVD release date:June 21, 2011
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:sequences of creature violence and action, language including some sexual references, and some drug material
This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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