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Daybreakers (2009) – Trailer Included
Daybreakers - Available on DVD
Writer/Directors: The Spierig Brothers
Starring: Willem DaFoe, Ethan Hawke, Claudia Karvan, Sam Neil
Taking seven years of tenacious development, the Aussie Writing and Directorial duo the Spierig Brothers finally follow up there gooey zombie comedy film Undead.
Blending the science fiction and Vampire genre with a borderline apocalyptic contagion film, Daybreakers at the least aspires to bring some new blood into the saturation of fanged throat ripping yarns. Gory FX, future noir cinematography and high concept action all meld to deliver a fun, but flawed work.
The year is 2019 and a violent plague has infected 95% of the human race with immortality and a lust for the red stuff that is easily recognized as vampirism. Technology has been adapted to allow this new ruling class to live comfortably. Cars come equipped with daytime driving modifications, the working day begins after dusk and importantly life juice is farmed from the epidemics survivors.
Hunted down and processed normal beings are now the minority. Problem is there is only enough blood to last another month. Those with the pointy teeth and aversion to sunlight are beginning to suffer from a lack of feeding and so a synthetic alternative is being developed.
Charged with finding it for a massive multinational corporation is hematologist Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke). Trouble is that he sees the twisted morality and unavoidable extinction of pure humanity for the horror that it is.
One night as he makes his way home a group of tenacious renegades cross his path and soon see that he could be of use to aid their cause, finding a cure to the disease. Handing him an opportunity to make a difference, the deadly Audrey (Claudia Karvan) organizes a rendezvous where Edward meets the crossbow lovin Elvis (Willem Da Foe). Immediately events spiral that force Ed to choose sides and face the dark reality that threatens the end of our ace and theirs.
Who ya gunna call? Vampbusters!
John Doe says:
Never becoming a scary horror film, Daybreakers takes it’s promising premise and splatters it with an urgent atmosphere that draws you in. The freshness of the rewriting of vamp mythology is sadly handicapped by some shoddy local performances, cheesy dialogue and subtle third act casualties of continuity.
Shot with a monochrome eye that contrasts pastels, the camera work and production design are the films biggest strengths. The unrestrained use of red syrup for slimy deaths another. Starting out strong and striving to establish a tone of originality there are some interesting reveals in the way that people have adapted to their circumstances.
At work in the lab on some of the vampire prosthetic FX
On the negative side some of the character dialogue is anemic and clichéd, especially Sam Neil’s corporate villain and Claudia Karvan’s tough chick with a tender heart. The elephant in the room is that the Spierigs fail to get quality performances from the antipodean cast and it is often a distraction that rips you from the films spell.
Ethan Hawke, (Gattaca, Waking Life, Tape) is the only player aiming to explore his part and as usual he is excellent. Channeling the film noir essence of his urban habitat with a fedora hat, slightly ill fitting suit and a chain smoking habit he makes a worthy protagonist.
The always watchable Willem DaFoe, (To Live and Die in LA, Shadow of the Vampire, American Psycho) removes much of his maniacal menace eccentricities to almost become non-threatening despite Elvis’ propensity for violence. He seems very aware of the type of film he has signed on for and brings little more than presence to the role.
Sam Neil, (In the Mouth of Madness, Possession) gives a very average portrayal of smarmy villainy despite some backstory that could have provided substance and importantly surprise to the larger story.
Dragging it down further is Claudia Karvan (Love My Way) and Vince Colosimo (Body of Lies, Chopper) whose accent hopping is uneven not just from scene to scene but moment to moment. Unable to sustain an American veneer they should have just played it in their native tongues. The need for redubbing aside they do fill their characters simple aims capably.
Bobba Fett himself Jay Laga’aia does well as an underground politician but his time onscreen is too brief to really mine the part. Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Red Dawn remake) looks cherubic enough to elicit sympathy and her rushed arc may well have been a highlight given more time to gestate.
As it is John Doe did enjoy the film for its lofty goals and it certainly has some worthy thrills and fodder for the late hours working for it. The hiccups mentioned are what make it a good film but with the promise of the concept it fails to be all it could be. As the sun rises the opening set up is its strongest asset and by the time the U.V. rays set in the west Daybreakers has achieved some notable re-invigoration of much worn material.
Trailer for Daybreakers
An interview with the Spierig Brothers
Horrorphile
I thought this movie was mutton dressed as lamb. I gobbler in disguise.
Some of the gore stuff at the end was good though, and Sam Neill getting his head ripped off was satisfying.
Screen Adventure
I dont know what it is, call me bias here based the films associations with certain people (names have been with held), but this has stinker written all over it!
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH
Film & TV on DVD
I remember reading your review a while back and it lowered my expectations. maybe that's what it was. I was expecting complete incompetence and instead I got a film that was visually interesting and had some cool ideas.
After some of the crappy vamp films I have seen recently this one at least offered some joy. I agree I probably was nice about it, but still it did entertain despite its flaws, which i do believe I included in the review.
Then again i found Undead amusing too, which I know you hated..
Film & TV on DVD
I wouldn't call it a complete stinker, nor would I recommend it as a much watch. But as a fan of vampire films and a supporter of Undead, I did think it warranted a look for those with a taste for flesh eaters, genre blending and future noir visuals.
You will have to email me your aversion to those in the credits
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Film & TV on DVD
It was an interesting but flawed work.Hope some of the themes are explored more deeply in the future.
Great to see you venture into my domain
Film & TV on DVD
Knew you would like the angle and yes the vamp mobile was smokin'.