Daybreakers
3/4
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Claudia Karvan, Willem Dafoe, Michael Dorman
Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Language and Brief Nudity
"Daybreakers" is a vampire movie that bears a stronger likeness to "The Matrix," "Children of Men" and, believe it or not, Norman Rockwell-ish sitcoms of the 50s than "Twilight." Or even "Dracula." The film is built upon ideas rather than special effects (although there are a fair amount of those) and blood and gore (and there's plenty of that).
The Spierig Brothers' film rests upon a unique foundation. Ten years ago, a plague swept across the globe turning humans into vampires. Vampires have adapted successfully and have thus become the dominant species on the planet...and caused homo sapiens to join the gorilla and the tiger on the endangered species list. A businessman (or should that be business-pire?), Charles Bromley (Neill) is farming humans for sustenance while researching for a substitute. Meanwhile, one of his researchers, Ed Dalton (Hawke) has tagged along with some humans who have found a cure for vampirism.
Unlike many movies with intriguing premises, this one rarely takes the easy way out and until the end, doesn't use action in place of a plot. The action scenes come organically from the plot, not the other way around. The story is filled with inventive little details about vampire society, which the filmmakers use as a commentary on our modern life (two politicians are involved on a heated debate on the ethics of farming humans, life stops during the day instead of night, and so on).
Sadly, the acting is not up to standard. The two main characters, Ethan Hawke and Sam Neill (who, by the way, are usually impeccable actors), are flat. Both appear to be doing it for the money. Neither one is particularly bad, but with a bit more effort on their parts, the enjoyment level could have been raised. Claudia Karvan and Willem Dafoe are terrific as the human survivors, and Michael Dorman is very good as Ed's soldier brother, Frankie.
The Spierig Brothers, a directing pair from Germany whose previous film, an Australian exploitation film called "Undead," didn't make much headway in the US, have made a film to be proud of. It's a horror film that engages the mind as well as the adrenaline; there are some spooky moments and exciting action sequences in the film.
As good as much of the film is, there are flaws (apart from the flat acting by the two leads). There are a few fairly obvious plotholes, and the Spierig Brothers give into temptation and have an action-packed ending. Not that that's a problem in and of itself (it was a criticism flung unfairly at "The Matrix"), this ending isn't either scary or exciting; it's over-the-top macabre.
I recommend the film with barely a moment's hesitation. It's a vampire movie that, despite its flaws, manages to intrigue.
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Claudia Karvan, Willem Dafoe, Michael Dorman
Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Language and Brief Nudity
"Daybreakers" is a vampire movie that bears a stronger likeness to "The Matrix," "Children of Men" and, believe it or not, Norman Rockwell-ish sitcoms of the 50s than "Twilight." Or even "Dracula." The film is built upon ideas rather than special effects (although there are a fair amount of those) and blood and gore (and there's plenty of that).
The Spierig Brothers' film rests upon a unique foundation. Ten years ago, a plague swept across the globe turning humans into vampires. Vampires have adapted successfully and have thus become the dominant species on the planet...and caused homo sapiens to join the gorilla and the tiger on the endangered species list. A businessman (or should that be business-pire?), Charles Bromley (Neill) is farming humans for sustenance while researching for a substitute. Meanwhile, one of his researchers, Ed Dalton (Hawke) has tagged along with some humans who have found a cure for vampirism.
Unlike many movies with intriguing premises, this one rarely takes the easy way out and until the end, doesn't use action in place of a plot. The action scenes come organically from the plot, not the other way around. The story is filled with inventive little details about vampire society, which the filmmakers use as a commentary on our modern life (two politicians are involved on a heated debate on the ethics of farming humans, life stops during the day instead of night, and so on).
Sadly, the acting is not up to standard. The two main characters, Ethan Hawke and Sam Neill (who, by the way, are usually impeccable actors), are flat. Both appear to be doing it for the money. Neither one is particularly bad, but with a bit more effort on their parts, the enjoyment level could have been raised. Claudia Karvan and Willem Dafoe are terrific as the human survivors, and Michael Dorman is very good as Ed's soldier brother, Frankie.
The Spierig Brothers, a directing pair from Germany whose previous film, an Australian exploitation film called "Undead," didn't make much headway in the US, have made a film to be proud of. It's a horror film that engages the mind as well as the adrenaline; there are some spooky moments and exciting action sequences in the film.
As good as much of the film is, there are flaws (apart from the flat acting by the two leads). There are a few fairly obvious plotholes, and the Spierig Brothers give into temptation and have an action-packed ending. Not that that's a problem in and of itself (it was a criticism flung unfairly at "The Matrix"), this ending isn't either scary or exciting; it's over-the-top macabre.
I recommend the film with barely a moment's hesitation. It's a vampire movie that, despite its flaws, manages to intrigue.
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