Netherbeast Incorporated (2007)

Hey, a horror-comedy with Dave Foley in it! I guess I will watch it. Netherbeast Incorporated primarily takes place within an office building populated by "netherbeasts" who live fairly ordinary lives as business people. Otto Granberry (Steve Burns aka Steve from Blues Clues) narrates, often with the help of animated presentations, describing life as a netherbeast, which is kind of like a vampire but less sinister. They can go out in the sun, but not for very long, and while they do need human flesh to survive, they don't kill and maim to get it, instead feasting on the recently dead. It's actually some sort of birth defect that's activated when the person dies, re-awakening with these attributes.

They must always be close to a piece of "netherstone", some sort of mystical item that radiates or something (I don't really remember, but basically it keeps them functioning). There are no outsiders allowed in their building, and they keep apartments in the upper floors. When Turner (Darrell Hammond), the head of the company, becomes afflicted with a form of amnesia netherbeasts are prone to get, he forgets he and his friends are all vampires and brings in an outside consultant (Judd Nelson) and an innocent new hire (Amy Davidson). It's up to Otto and the others to protect their secret, while also investigating several recent disappearances within the group.

Goodness, long summary, sorry. Anyway, I saw this movie on a lark and was surprised by how much I liked it. It's not uproariously funny and it's not very scary, but it's a cool premise with an engaging script. There's a lot going on, from the missing persons and fear of exposure, to Turner's brain deterioration and some flashbacks about the company's founding, and everything comes together well. I dug the little explanatory animations showing what it's like to be a vampire, and I think Steve Burns does a good job as an average-joe-type narrator.

Dave Foley is there but stays pretty low-key (of course, it's always nice to see any Kid in the Hall as a businessman character), and Jason Mewes has a silly supporting role. Darrell Hammond stands out as the boss slowly losing his mind. He starts off cocky and eccentric and gradually devolves into a carefree, babbling guy with a short attention span. He is definitely the funniest thing in the movie.

Netherbeast Incorporated has some really interesting ideas and an impressively detailed new mythology relating to vampires, in a premise that's detailed and feels fully realized. It's a good blend of workplace comedy and horror-mystery even if it goes too light on both of them. I like the cast, there's a cute romantic subplot, and I applaud its innovation. Also, Alexander Graham Bell and James Garfield make appearances! History!

3.5/5