Review: Daybreakers
If the last mainstream vampire film in the theaters seemed to lack much bite, then perhaps vampire sci-fi film Daybreakers might fulfill horror fans' appetites. It is the year 2019 and a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Many humans were "turned" against their will by others, and feed off pig blood. Vampires have regular jobs, but they work reverse hours, live in protected homes and drive UV-protected vehicles. The remaining humans are hunted down so that a constant supply of fresh blood is available for the ruling population of vampires. However, the blood supply is dwindling, as humans are becoming extinct, and so the dominant vampire species are concerned with their survival.
Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) is a hemotologist vampire who is working on a synthetic blood that will substitute for human blood. Charles Bromley (Sam Neill) is the bloodthirsty capitalist vampire who plans to sell the synthetic juice at a premium price to wealthy vampire connoisseurs. Only trouble is that the synthetic blood doesn't work out too well in clinical trials, with some gory effects. Meanwhile, resistance groups of humans are attempting to find and gather survivors. Edward encounters a covert group of human resistance fighters that will bring him closer to the real solution of the vampires' dilemma -- finding a cure for the immortality that relies on human blood.
Daybreakers boasts a well-cast ensemble of actors, and solid characterization. Sam Neill masterfully plays the diabolical capitalist that would sacrifice his own daughter for his riches, and Ethan Hawke remains a solid leading man. Claudia Karvan delivered a strong performance as female resistance fighter Audrey Bennett. However, Willem Dafoe as Lionel "Elvis" Cormac gives a real stand-out performance -- amazing to me considering this film was one of seven he played a role in last year.
The cinematography and art direction of Daybreakers is reminiscent of some of my favorite science-fiction films, Gattaca and Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers, as well as Tony Scott's horror romance The Hunger. The resemblance to Gattaca is not just Ethan Hawke's portrayal of the lead character, but the visually stylistic society in which the elite vampires live, from their residences to fashion. The gorier scenes were over the top enough that I was reminded me of Verhoeven's work. In a final climatic scene all I could imagine was one of the Spierig brothers exclaiming, "BLOOD -- we need more BLOOD! Bring in the firehoses!"
Daybreakers shows the true nature and underbelly of a vampire society when the glamorous facade disintegrates, and the resilience of humans. This film is a welcome relief from and much better special effects than the sparkly vegetarian vampires of the Twilight series, but still has enough style to charm Bela Lugosi himself.
For more on Daybreakers, check out Jenn Brown's interview with filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig.