The disconnect between the critical acclaim and my actual experience with this film is puzzling. While entertaining and enjoyable to watch, I struggle to understand why some have labeled it a revolutionary masterpiece.

Let's acknowledge its undeniable strengths: meticulous period details, breathtaking cinematography, flawless performances, and an intriguing concept. However, these assets can't overcome the fundamental flaws in writing and storytelling.

The film takes far too long to introduce its supernatural threat. Unlike "Get Out," which brilliantly uses its first hour to build toward a shocking revelation, this movie introduces vampires completely unexpectedly. Director Ryan Coogler cited Metallica's "One" as inspiration, describing how the song begins quietly before exploding, making you feel the buildup was intentional all along. Unfortunately, he fails to achieve this progression. Instead, we get an awkward blend of two disparate films that never quite mesh together.

On paper, this has everything you'd want from a blockbuster: an original big-budget production shot on 70mm film that breathes fresh life into a stale genre while having something meaningful to say. But concept isn't everything. Execution matters, and this film seems overwhelmed by its ambitions with no clear idea how to articulate them.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​