'Daybreakers' Doesn't Suck Me In Like It Should

Release Date: January 8, 2010

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Willem Dafoe, Claudia Karvan, Isabel Lucas, Michael Dorman

Director: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig

MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence, language, and brief nudity

Trailer

Official Movie Website

First, I just want to bring up that I have 21 reviews (including this one) up on my blog now. I am now on the personal goal of reaching 100 entries by the end of this year. I have 105 days, but with classes and exams going on at the same time...let's just say this will be interesting. So, I've set a goal; let's see if, I mean WHEN, I make it.

So, 'Daybreakers.'

It is 2019 and the world suffers a terrible food epidemic...of blood (insert dramatic music here). Vampires make up most of the population of the world. The remaining humans are either in hiding or held in storage facilities where their blood is collected.

The human supply is lowering and blood is now rationed out to the general public of the undead. Those who cannot afford the growing prices for blood or who are not getting enough are degenerating into wild, bat-like creatures known as subsiders. These subsiders start terrorizing neighborhoods and become another problem to deal with. Bat people sound lame, I know, but at least they don't sparkle.

Oh, God! KILL IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke of 'Gattaca' and 'Dead Poets Society) works for a corporation that specializes in capturing and storing the remaining "wild" humans. Kind of like Pokemon in the worst possible scenario. The company's head honcho, Charles Bromley (Sam Neill of 'Jurassic Park'), also has a research team looking for a way to create artificial blood.

Edward (yeah, I know; why couldn't they choose another name that does not make you think of 'Twilight') is not like most vampires though. He feels sympathetic towards the humans and has not had a drop of human blood for a long time; he is mostly living on animal blood (just like the other Edward!). He feels the artificial blood will help stop their suffering and continues with the research.

Edward later meets two humans, Audrey (Claudia Karvan), and 'Elvis' (Willem Dafoe of 'Spider-Man,' 'Finding Nemo,' 'The Boondock Saints'). Elvis is convinced that there is a better solution for the world: To cure vampirism. How does a random human know how to do that? Because Elvis was once a vampire himself, but not anymore.

Edward becomes intrigued, but there are a few roadblocks that he must face first, including his military brother, Frankie (Michael Dorman).

So, I am in love with the whole "blood shortage, vampires rule the world, oh-my-God-there's-not-enough-humans" idea. It's a good idea and must have been amazing to write. However, the movie seems to become lamer and lamer as it nears the end.

When I say lamer, I do not mean the visuals. The visuals are pretty cool, albeit overly gory. It's just the writing. I can't explain it, but the story just became "meh."

The actors are all good. Certainly not Oscar worthy, but they are decent enough for the kind of acting 'Daybreakers' needs.

I think the movie is just okay and the original ideas are, once again, great, but 'Daybreakers' began lacking in something near the end.

Rent worthy? Oh, yeah. I think it is worth watching once, especially if these kinds of movies are your thing. Good film to watch with friends, not with really young siblings/children. It is available through mail-order on Netflix. Not sure about instant play.

DVD/Blu-ray worthy? I won't buy it. It's not a movie I can watch over and over again and enjoy it each time. First time is enough, thank you.

Keep on watchin'

The Little Critic