There’s a rare kind of authenticity when films intersect with punk, metal, and hardcore culture in a way that feels earned and genuine rather than performative. Night Patrol, director Ryan Prows’ new grimy vampire crime thriller, lives firmly in that space. It merges supernatural horror with police brutality, underground music, and a cast that spans film veterans, rappers, and professional wrestlers.
Check out our full review of 'Night Patrol'
Among them is none other than Colin Young, the prominent artist behind Twitching Tongues and God’s Hate, HardLore co-host, and now onscreen actor, playing one of the film’s most openly despicable authority figures. We spoke with Young about punk cinema touchstones, the original vision for Night Patrol’s soundtrack, stepping into acting, surviving night shoots, and why the Twilight saga might actually be the undefeated vampire franchise.
I love when movies can successfully capture the true aesthetics of rock and metal and punk. Are there any other examples of movies that you think successfully capture that?
Colin Young: The Crow is the first example that comes to mind. It’s iconic to this day, filled with great songs that stand out on their own, but especially in the context of the film, with this dark, brooding atmosphere that they’re building - very ahead of its time. You’ve got The Cure writing one of their best songs ever in a drug-filled mania that they apparently don’t remember. You’ve got Pantera covering Poison Idea in a studio action film. That’s what I’m all about. There’s Judgment Night, obviously, but I think The Crow holds up just as an overall experience more whereas most people just remember the Judgment Night soundtrack.
This was originally envisioned to host an entirely original, hardcore-meets-hip-hop soundtrack that unfortunately fell through. What was that change like, from original songs to pre-established ones?
Colin Young: It was Ryan’s vision, so I can only imagine what they would have ended up doing with it. But as soon as they pitched the idea, I visualized all kinds of crazy shit I wanted. I wanted Harm's Way and BONES doing a song. I had this crazy thing of Twitching Tongues and Freddie Gibbs where I wrote the whole thing, and it’s awesome. But it was just like; if it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t make sense. When you watch the movie, there are still these big music-driven moments. That would have been driven by music written uniquely for the film, which creates a different experience.
But now it’s got the whole, “Oh shit! It’s that song!” feeling, which is special for different reasons. Hopefully someday another opportunity presents itself to make that happen. I just think it’s cool that they wrote a character to be listening to Burn in his room despite all this supernatural madness going on around him. It’s awesome.
You grew up doing theater in high school. Is acting something you’ve always been interested in exploring before now?
Colin Young: It’s definitely something I’ve always wanted to do. Once the action was rolling, the fear was gone. Watching people like Justin Long in front of me on my first day meant a lot. He’s rationalizing everything he’s doing with himself, with the director, with everyone around him. It’s like I’m getting this tiny little masterclass on my first day from a lifelong professional. Dermot Mulroney being there for one day - he’s in Young Guns, man. We just kept looking around like, “This is so cool.” Everybody was so comfortable. Ryan was very low-stress with how he directs. It was very much just, “Yeah, try that out. That’s nice.” On a low-budget set, you don’t have time to say, “Let me try that ten more times.”
Did those late-night shoots end up messing with your head and sleep schedule?
Colin Young: For me, it was six days straight. There’s something kind of fun about sleeping as long as you can, getting to set at 6 PM, and having a big coffee. There’s something dangerous about that. Your brain’s like, “You’re not supposed to have this right now.” And when you’re trying to get into the head of this piece of shit racist vampire guy, you imagine he’s drinking coffee all day. So I’m method acting.
I think my favorite comment you’ve made was about the on-set vaping. Was it borderline dystopian, or did it ever stop being funny?
Colin Young: I’m not joking. I felt like I was in a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. I’m Larry David, the only normal person, and everyone else is pranking me. I don’t know the first thing about vape technology, and I’m so psyched to be blissfully unaware of it. But it might lead to the collapse of the entire film industry. It was like They Live - I put on the glasses and suddenly everyone’s a lizard, vaping, and you’re the only one who knows that’s crazy.
What was it like hanging with CM Punk on set?
Colin Young: He’s the fucking man. I’ve known him for a couple of years now, so it felt like a piece of home. Having one presence you actually know in something like this makes it way easier. He’s doing the last true, live traveling theater in the world every week. The show never ends. He’s constantly improvising, constantly thinking on his feet, carrying a live broadcast.
In the film, he’d say, “If I’m going to do this, that means I have to do this.” And that was the same thing with Freddie Gibbs and YG. You can script it, but you’re not going to know how people in those positions would actually say things. CM Punk knew how to spin scenes to make sense. Freddie and YG knew how to spin scenes to feel real in the most insane circumstances possible.
What are some of your favorite vampire movies? Mine is 30 Days of Night.
Colin Young: I love 30 Days of Night. But I’m gonna have to go Twilight, number one. New Moon is number two. Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is number three. Eclipse is number four. Part One is just too much exposition. I don’t care. Get me to the good shit. Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is mayhem, dude. And Peter Murphy is in Eclipse. So what are you gonna do? It’s cool.
Catch Colin Young on regular episodes of HardLore, and watch 'Night Patrol' now in select cinemas and streaming soon on AMC+.
