Daybreakers
Directed by: The Spierig Brothers Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Willem Dafoe Running Time: 1 hr 38 mins Rating: R Release Date: January 8, 2009
PLOT: In the year 2019, 95 percent of the world's population have turned into vampires, with the remaining humans harvested for their blood. A group of rebellious survivors (led by Dafoe) think they have a cure for the blood-sucking disease, and enlist a fanged hematologist (Hawke) to help them.
WHO'S IT FOR?: Do you love vampires? How about a world full of them? If blood sucking isn’t your bag, there’s a lot of dystopic imagery to intrigue the sci-fi fan, but the general viewing public should be ready for a lot of red.
EXPECTATIONS: This looked like another movie with vampires, but this time the humans are the "hunted." It seemed as if vampire mania had finally hit it's limit. I was carrying garlic in my pocket, and that's putting it lightly.
SCORECARD (0-10)
ACTORS:
Ethan Hawke as Edward Dalton: Unfortunately he shares the name of a different cheesy vampire, but thankfully he does not come with that boy's moodiness. This Edward is a decently antihero, who has a very natural progression from regular guy to hero, without ever standing out as unrealistic (despite being a vampire who is not interested in blood). Most of this is character construction, but Hawke does a fine job in bringing this to fruition. Score: 6
Sam Neill as Charles Bromley: This is a rare instance of someone looking like a vampire naturally – the color contacts are just a completing touch. Neill has piercing eyes, and with his grin, which can be used for good or evil, he is a great fit for a villain that hides behind his suit and corporate power. Score: 6
Willem Dafoe as Elvis: The weakest character in the movie, Dafoe’s simple character is saddled with bringing both the action and the resolution to the story. But even with such power in the film’s story, he’s not very striking. He rides shotgun to smart guy Edward, and tries to be cool as the human with a good car collection and roughneck attitude. I don’t buy it. Score: 3
TALKING: Dafoe has flat one-liners that exist only to drive in the point that he is a redneck. Lines like “I felt like a piece of fried chicken” don’t give the screenplay a boost towards creativity, nor make this gung-ho character any more endearing. Score: 4
SIGHTS: Cinematography is probably the film’s strongest aspect, as its concept is made more believable with eerie dystopian imagery, all of which is professionally captured with a distinctive gray tint. For the editing one can’t share the same praises, there are entire scenes that don’t belong, along with the Brothers’ lame tendency to throw in a penny-cheap jump scare. Bats, really? Score: 6
SOUNDS: Timpanis are abused and strings wander throughout the entire film, but the composer learns how to write a decent score by the end of the credits. If the production design of Daybreakers doesn’t convince you that this movie about vampire world is serious business, check out the music as it blasts towards a majestic major key finale. It sounds like we're bursting out of hell (a great note to rise from your chair to). Score: 4
PLOT SPOILERS
BEST SCENE: Best vampire army massacre in slow motion I’ve seen this week, and perhaps for the entire month of January. Absolutely one of the most glorious (and goriest) shots in the film.
ENDING: Healthy things for vampires: blood and some sunny D.
QUESTIONS: What else can vampires eat? Count Chocula? Gushers? Definitely not the new Domino's pizza, considering the garlic they just added to the crust. (Which gets a 9/10 from TSR!)
REWATCHABILITY: I would see this again in the near future, if just to look at the pretty moving pictures.
OVERALL
Directing duo The Spierig Brothers have got themselves a compelling concept that thankfully reaches beyond fully satisfying the followers of the blood-sucking fad. A story about a world of vampires could have easily doomed Daybreakers, especially with the movie's obedience to classic vampire traits (no reflection in mirrors, etc.) However, the film strongly believes its concept, presents it with cinematography not expected to be seen at the multiplex in January, and doesn’t let itself trip over too much to vampire cheesiness. The goriness is certainly required for a film as dark as Daybreakers, and the general momentum of the film is admirable. It prefers to be more of a drama until it's chaotic third act, where it lets the blood fly and the action/sci-fi fans are given their fix.
Still, the most resonant factor of Daybreakers may be its tiny miracle. It's a sci-fi horror movie that's been released the first week of January, has not one minority but an entire world of vampires, and it doesn't suck.
FINAL SCORE: 5/10