An LAPD officer discovers a police task force is harboring a horrific secret that endangers residents of the housing projects he grew up in. A film by Ryan Prows, starring Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long, Freddie Gibbs, RJ Cyler, Keenon Dequan “YG” Ray Jackson, Nicki Micheaux, Flying Lotus, Jon Oswald, Nick Gillie, Zuri Reed, Phil Brooks, Mike Ferguson, Colin Young, Zach Andrews, D.Loc, and Dermot Mulroney.

One night, Wazi (RJ Cyler) sneaks out of his house to meet his girlfriend Zarina “Primo” Shannon (Zuri Reed) at their usual spot. Primo is caught off guard when Wazi tries to give her a ring, making sure he isn’t actually proposing. Wazi assures her it is just a gift. He explains that it was his mother’s ring and holds Zulu cultural significance, but he doesn’t really care about that. He simply thought it looked cool.

Wazi gets frustrated when Primo reminds him that their romance is purely for fun. She points out that she cannot wear his jewelry or be seen with a Crip, as their respective gangs are bitter enemies. When Wazi suggests they run away together to leave the gang war behind, Primo refuses to abandon her family. She tells Wazi to get out of her car and take the ring with him.

A police cruiser suddenly pulls up behind Primo’s car. Over the PA system, Officer Chad (colin-young) orders Zarina Shannon to exit the vehicle immediately, threatening to open fire if she refuses. As Primo steps out, a deputy (Phil Brooks) approaches her.

When Primo asks what they are doing and points out that he is not wearing a bodycam, the deputy ignores her questions and orders her to face the other way. Shining his flashlight into her car, he spots a pistol lying on the console above the glove compartment. He grabs the loaded weapon and hands it to Ethan Hawkins (Justin Long).

Ethan aims the gun at Primo’s back but hesitates to pull the trigger. However, the deputy insists that if Ethan wants to join the Night Patrol, he has to do it. Left with no other choice, Ethan fires the weapon, killing Primo instantly.

Shocked and panicked, Wazi frantically scrambles out of the car and flees. Determined to leave no witnesses, the deputy orders Tommy (Mike Ferguson) to chase after him. Meanwhile, Ethan discovers the bicycle Wazi left behind, spotting a graffiti tag on its down tube that reads “CRIPBOI.”

Tommy pursues Wazi and eventually corners him. Just as Tommy is about to pull the trigger, a terrified Wazi shields his face with his hands and begs for his life. Suddenly, his mother’s ring emits a faint green glow. Startled by the glowing ring, Tommy quietly backs away and retreats.

The next day, Ethan is on patrol with his partner Xavier Carr (Jermaine Fowler), a former Crip turned cop. Ethan asks if Xavier has ever come across a street name or gang associated with the tag “Cripboi,” mentioning that he tried searching for it but came up blank. Xavier reveals that the name is actually his younger brother’s old gamer handle and offers to ask him about it. Xavier then calls his estranged brother Wazi to see if he knows anything. When Xavier mentions that the police department is asking about the tag, Wazi realizes that the cops who killed Primo must be looking for him. Panicked, Wazi abruptly cuts the conversation short, saying he has to go and will call Xavier back later.

Knowing he cannot go to the police, Wazi takes a massive risk and heads into rival gang territory to confront Primo’s brother and gang leader, Bornelius (Freddie Gibbs). Wazi tells Bornelius that Primo was murdered by cops and says he believes they were the Night Patrol. Suspicious of his story, Bornelius and his crew members, Three (Flying Lotus) and Tripp (Keenon Dequan “YG” Ray Jackson), accuse Wazi of setting her up. They demand to know why she was killed while he managed to walk away. Wazi desperately insists he has no idea why he survived, but points out that the Night Patrol knew exactly where Primo was going to be. Bornelius decides to let Wazi lead them back to where it happened.

Upon returning to the crime scene, Bornelius and Wazi are horrified to find Primo’s mutilated remains scattered around her car. Sensing a lingering satanic energy, Bornelius declares his sister was killed by a demon. Three disagrees, suggesting it could be a leopard, a shapeshifter, or the lizard man rumored to roam their neighborhood. As they bicker over what mutilated her remains, Wazi lashes out in frustration and reminds them it was the LAPD. Unsettled by the gruesome sight, Bornelius becomes convinced that whatever killed Primo is coming for them next.

That night, Wazi discovers that his hidden money stash behind the nightstand has been emptied by his mother Ayanda (Nicki Micheaux). She enters his room, visibly worried that her son was out all night when he wasn’t supposed to be. Her concern quickly turns to anger when she spots her ring on Wazi’s finger, demanding to know if he took it outside of Colonial Courts. Wazi confesses that he was with Primo when the police showed up and murdered her. When he admits that the shooter was a Night Patrol officer and that they saw him, Ayanda reveals that the Night Patrol was responsible for her husband’s death, and now Wazi has brought them straight to their door.

Meanwhile, Xavier becomes upset after learning that Ethan got the promotion and made the Night Patrol. He reveals that joining the elite unit has been his lifelong dream since leaving the Crips, a desire driven by the trauma of watching his mother shoot his dad when he was only nine. In response, Ethan opens up about his own tragic past. His father was an LAPD officer who died in the line of duty while serving on the Night Patrol. Convinced the unit had something to do with his father’s death, Ethan explains that he is determined to infiltrate the Night Patrol to find the truth and uncover the evidence he has spent his life searching for. After Xavier admits that “Cripboi” is his younger brother, Ethan promises to do everything in his power to protect him, despite needing to earn the Night Patrol’s trust for his own agenda.

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@pradt

NIGHT PATROL 🚔
When the city goes dark, the rules disappear.
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A film by Ryan Prows, starring Jermaine Fowler, Justin Long, Freddie Gibbs, RJ Cyler, Keenon Dequan 'YG' Ray Jackson, Nicki Micheaux, Flying Lotus, Jon Oswald, Nick Gillie, Zuri Reed, Phil Brooks, and Dermot Mulroney.

Directed by American filmmaker Ryan Prows from a screenplay he co-wrote with Shaye Ogbonna, Tim Cairo, and Jake Gibson, Night Patrol is a supernatural horror-thriller. The film follows an LAPD officer whose brother witnesses a murder and suddenly finds himself hunted by a legendary police force.

Despite an inventive premise that weaves together vampire tropes, prejudice, and Zulu mythology, the film struggles to execute its ambitious vision. The narrative is dragged down by underdeveloped characters, confusing vampire lore, illogical plot choices, and awkward dialogue.

NIGHT PATROL premiered at Fantastic Fest on 19 September 2025. The film had a limited theatrical release in the United States on 16 January 2026.