Review of Daybreakers (2010) by Nicole S — 05 Apr 2011

Daybreakers is a sci-fi/horror/drama hybrid. It earned some letters from my R-E-S-P-E-C-T bag because of its treatment of the genres: enough gore and blood for the horror, a scientific premise for the sci-fi aspect, and Ethan Hawke's permanent expression of terrified constipation for the drama part.

The best part of the film is that the plot elements and characterizations tend to be unpredictable. For example, the vampires are similar to humans, creatures tied to comfort and reliant on technology -- except they degenerate into mindless batlike monsters when deprived of human blood. In an effort to maintain the vampire status quo, a pharmaceutical company headed by Sam Neill's fat cat executive character attempts to manufacture a blood replacement product. His chief hematologist, played by Ethan Hawke, doesn't like his own kind and feels sorry for the humans. Fortuitously, he encounters a tiny group of runaway humans led by hot Australian actress Claudia Kavan -- here making a heroic attempt at hiding her accent -- who leads him to Willem Dafoe, who holds the key to solving the vampire problem. He also holds a crossbow.

The movie is ambiguous when it comes to all the symbolism, which is both fun and frustrating. For example, human blood very likely represents energy (oil, etc); the vampire society might be some authoritarian regime from history; Willem Dafoe's character could be a metaphor for nature over science; the possibilities are endless!

I guess the bottom line is that I liked it because it overturned my expectations. And, at an hour and a half, it's a pretty brisk movie, so I'd say go a head and take a bite.