It's been over 20 years since the release of Blade, and while the dark and gory tale of Marvel's first vampire slayer is by no means a perfect film, its impact on audiences is undeniable. Comic book movies in 1998 had yet to find any solid ground. And it would be several years before many of the standard conventions of the genre became mainstays. From Tim Burton's noir-esque Batman to Richard Donner's kid-friendly Superman, moviegoers were suffering from tonal whiplash. Worse yet, given the critical and commercial failure of both Batman & Robin and Steel the year prior, the genre was quickly becoming a laughing stock. That is until Blade came along.

Though it may remind audiences today of The Batman's epically violent opening, Blade's introduction in the film remains one of the best -- and most usual -- opening scenes in a superhero movie to date. As opposed to the titular hero, audiences are first introduced to an annoying party boy stereotype and his scantily clad date as they tear through the city. The man has little idea where they're headed until they reach a deserted meat-packing plant and the underground club beneath it. Blade quickly transitions into a horror film; as the camera looms on the over-crowded space and its harsh strobe lights, blood begins to rain from the ceiling.

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Trapped in a scene that would rival Carrie and understandably terrified, the film's would-be victim quite literally stumbles into its hero. As soon as Blade arrives, the movie transitions from a horror film into a heart-stopping action flick worthy of its R-rating. In his clean leather clothes and black shades, Blade (Wesley Snipes) mows down one vampire after another until only the human man and the bumbling vampire, Quinn (Donal Louge), remain. In one of the movie's sillier moments, Blade briefly celebrates his victory, pumping a fist in the air. Swiftly burnt to a crisp, Quinn unknowingly survives and is transported to a hospital.

It's here where Blade briefly revisits its horror movie-esque feel. While arguing with her colleague and former boyfriend and attempting to revive Quinn, hematologist Doctor Karen Jenson (N'Bushe Wright) is attacked. A badly burnt Quinn leaps up, nearly tearing out her colleague's throat and leaving him gasping for breath on the floor before setting his sights on Karen. After being bitten, she's rescued by Blade, who's reminded of his presumed deceased mother.

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Audiences then meet Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), who cures Karen and later explains Blade's origins. Blade's mother was bitten while pregnant with him, cursing her son with vampiric abilities and a thirst for blood. Whistler, finding the boy in the street and taking pity on him, invented a serum to suppress his bloodlust. With all of a vampire's strengths and all but one of their weaknesses, Blade is known to the vampires as a "daywalker." And he intends to destroy Deacon Frost -- the vampire who killed his mother -- as well as all vampirekind.

In addition to intense action sequences and gory fun, Blade offers audiences subtle social commentary in its depiction of Frost and the rest of the vampire council. Reminding audiences of a board of Fortune 500 executives, the young Frost is meant to represent those fresh faces made rich by the late-90s tech boom. Language like "half-breed" used in the film evokes the idea of racial -- as well as socioeconomic -- inequality. These important themes -- interspersed between blood-splattered action, classic '90s coolness and heartbreaking deaths -- make the film worth watching today.

Moreover, fans' love for Blade hasn't diminished. The character is rumored to return in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Halloween Special, Werewolf by Night. And though the exact scope of Blade's role in the special remains unclear, fans are excited.

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