DVD Reviews

Daybreakers

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Ethan Hawke
• Details: US/AUS/95mins 16

Whilst hardly original, or boasting dialogue that could be in any way construed as realistic, Daybreakers is nonetheless a slickly helmed, relatively layered film that will entertain those who like their heroes with fangs. In many ways this is a film that John Carpenter would be proud of, as it's a solid entry into the genre cannon; but as with a lot of flicks of this sort, it's impressive core ideas aren't always conveyed as well as they could've been. Part of that can be blamed at the lack of budget, but the script still could've done with a once over before cameras rolled.
It's the not-too-distant future and the world is now overrun with vampires. Humans represent about five percent of the remaining population, and those that are left are mainly harvested to feed the fanged population. But resources are quickly deteriorating, so remaining humans are hunted like animals by the military, while Ethan Hawke's empathetic corporate haematologist attempts to find a substitute form of feeding the masses. Alas, a group of heart-beating rebels led by Willem Dafoe's crossbow wielding veteran may have found a cure; it's just getting a chance to explain it to the vampires before they eat them that might be a problem.
There is subtext galore beneath the surface of Michael and Peter Spierig's ambitious film, and the majority of it makes a lot of sense. The dystopian society they have created feels very real, and almost possible - if you can just curtail the fact that these characters are vampires. It's about greed, and it's about the lengths of which those who have a big black hole of wanting will go to. Throw in conservatism, class divides, and you've a recipe for some tasty satire stew. But it's all played so unashamedledy straight that you can't help but chuckle, especially at the obligatory reliance on coincidence. People don't just turn up on cue; they come through windows in American muscle cars, uttering unintentionally hilarious lines.
All of that said, Daybreakers still manages to be fun for long enough to divert from its many flaws. The Spierigs have an particularly nice visual style, a fine grasp of action and some interesting ideas - even if the main one is ripped off from a crap Blade film.

Review by Mike Sheridan