DAYBREAKERS (2010)

Written & Directed By: Michael & Peter Spierig
Cinematography By: Ben Nott
Editor: Matt Villa

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Willem Dafoe, Isabel Lucas


In the year 2019, a plague has transformed almost every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.

This movie tries so hard to be good. It’s almost admirable the film is beautiful to look at. A definite recommendation but only if you plan to watch in on blu-ray DVD. The Spierig brothers who directed the film definitely show they have a style and finesse behind the camera. Their screenwriting though needs a bit of work.

There is a good story here but the pacing of the film is off. There are some scares and gore time to time but between those scenes, The film is just dull. I understand in these scenes we are getting to know the world in which the characters live in. The characters are so one dimensional that they feel created not born. In getting to know this world there is no exposition or pizzaz just black and white, Good and Evil. No in between Which leads the audience to no interest.

Even Willem Dafoe’s character seems to be written to be cool only and to make a iconic hero. He doesn’t feel like a real character. It doesn’t help that Dafoe is over the top, But at least he makes the film come alive. Ethan Hawke’s character our so called her is so passive that when we see his eventual transformation to hero warrior it feels false.

This is a case of style over substance, But usually in the case of that The film has so much action or special effects to distract you. That you don’t notice the missing substance. This film has the style but tries too hard to show it has depth and substance. Yet comes off as shallow. It’s not terrible but it is not what it could have been. It has the cast, The budget, The effects and talent behind the camera but it comes off as less then mediocre.

There are conflicting storylines. That you think will connect in meaningful ways but come across more like a coincidence. Things like Sam Neill’s Daughter, Ethan Hawke’s brother and her connection to the rebellion. Sam Neill’s the villain so to speak and is hardly in the film.

The story is in the future most of the world is vampires, There are very few humans left and blood supply is running low. So Ethan Hawke’s character is a scientist who is sympathetic towards humans and is working on a blood substitute to feed the world. He then gets pulled into the middle of the human resistance.

I like the fact they explain how vampires and communities work around the sunlight problem and the little things. Like that the blood is diluted into regular food and drinks to feed the hunger. But the film really leaves you wondering is this really a worldwide problem or just the state as we only seem to stay in that location. Which then makes you wonder these are the most important characters and the only hope the world has?

I look forward to future films of the Spierig brothers. I have faith in their talent. They are Australian which brings me hope for a resurgence of Australian filmmakers who usually make ozploitation films usually apocalyptic stylish and expensive films following in the shoes of Peter Weir, George Miller and Brian Trenchard-Smith.

The Film plays like more of a prequel or a big budget straight to home video movie.

Wait for cable.

GRADE: D+