Review by Mari Lynne Rupp
I love vampires. Any kind of vampires. And with the horror market saturation of Twilight, it's nice to see people are still trying.
Daybreakers is a Lionsgate offering, the synopsis being that the world has populated with vampires, and humans are farmed for blood. Unfortunately, the vampires being the greedy kind (remember, they were human!) humans are an endangered species, and blood is running low. The consequence of starvation are crippling and disfiguring. Businessman Charles Bromley (Sam Neill) and researcher Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) are desperately searching for a blood substitute to replenish the human race and save the vampires. They seem to be on the same side on the surface, but secrets reveal an apocalyptic ending that could finish human and vampire alike.
This movie,written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, grabs your attention from the first scene, and doesn't let go. It gives a pre-apocalyptic, "Blade-Runner" type feel, and very well illustrates the desperation of the time, and the hopelessness that underlines each action, if a substitute for human blood is not found. Enter "Elvis", (Willem Dafoe) a human who claims to be a "cured" vampire rustling together the last of humanity to help save human and vampire alike...If the vampires can control their starving blood-lust long enough to be helped.
As I said above, it's nice to see people are still trying to give us the nasty-ass vampires, the 'humane' vampires and the self-serving assholes. Trying, and in this case, succeeding quite nicely. It made me fall in complete love with vampires all over again.
This movie is so well-put together, directed and acted, it was just a fun damn ride. Aside from the three headlining actors, the cast consists mainly of unknowns, who give it all they got. It starts a situation which leaves you wondering how this movie can end well, and aside from some minor inconsistencies, it manages to end well. I don't recommend many movies to be experienced still in theater, but with this one? If you have the chance to see it on the big screen first, I highly recommend you do. This is one indulgence well worth the price. 9/10