A mélange of apocalyptic western, gothic horror and vampire action movie, Priest — decidedly not to be confused with the 1994 Miramax drama starring Linus
Roache — won’t win any awards for narrative originality, that much is certain. Based on TokyoPop’s popular graphic novel series written by Min-Woo Hying, the film nips liberally from everything from the Blade and Resident Evil franchises to The Searchers and Legion, director Scott Stewart and star Paul Bettany‘s previous collaboration. Still, while achingly familiar, Priest is streamlined and executed well enough to merit a pleased tip of the cap if not a rabid embrace from those comfortably within the movie’s demographic wheelhouse. For the full, original review, from Screen International, click here. (Screen Gems, PG-13, 87 minutes)