So, what’s hot now? Oh yes – vampires, vampires, vampires. And more vampires.
Unfortunately, you cannot deny the commercial success of things like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. Blah. So, in light of recent blood sucking releases, such as Reliance Entertainment’s Vampire Academy, I’ve decided to review a good vampire movie. (Side note: I don’t think I’ve ever used the word “vampire” so many times in one sentence before.)
Daybreakers is a great twist on the whole vampirism ordeal. In the film, we learn about the daily lives of those such afflicted because, in this world, vampires are the standard populous and humans are the ones living in the shadows. But, there’s a problem. They’ve been doing what creatures of the night do for so long that the blood supply is running low. And by that, of course, I mean humans.
Oh, and one other itsy bitsy problem – apparently if vampires don’t drink blood for a certain amount of time they turn into a vampire/bat hybrid thing which loses all social niceties and will eat anything. So, what’s a vegetarian vampire like Dr. Edward Dalton, played by Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead), to do? Answer – create a viable blood substitute to keep everyone from turning into the bat thingies and to allow the human race to repopulate. With this, he’ll have some help, human help, which is a big no-no. Thusly, trouble ensues.
Daybreakers pairs science and science fiction and drenches it with no small amount of mythic lore. Ethan Hawke is pale, dark, and brooding in the best possible way while being supported by a powerhouse cast headed by Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, In the Mouth of Madness) and Willem Defoe (Shadow of the Vampire, Spider Man). Fantastic plot, writing, and dialog are the icing on this supernatural/horror/thriller cake. Also, it has a great twist ending.
Semi spoiler alert – reverse plague. That’s all I’m saying.
Check out the film for yourself. Daybreakers is available on Amazon Instant Video.
