Daybreakers (2009)
Australia 98m, Colour
Directors: Michael and Peter Spierig; Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Claudia Karvan, Sam Neill, Michael Dorman, Isabel Lucas
While there are certainly better vampire films, Daybreakers is one of the more original and interesting takes in this well-worn genre. Borrowing conceptually and stylistically from The Matrix (1999), the remaining humans in Daybreakers are farmed for blood in a world where all but five percent of their population has been turned into vampires. As a result, the demand for blood has surpassed the supply, which threatens the world’s undead population. While this plot could easily be the basis for a post-apocalyptic vampire dominated world, it is presented as a surprisingly normalized society, at least until the starving members resort to cannibalistic practices. Despite the very interesting premise, strong performances, and first-rate special effects, the film’s rather unremarkable conclusion remains a bit of a disappointment (Klaus Ming April 2011).
I was somewhat tempted to see this, but I was really getting sick of vampires at that time. I aksi tried watching a couple of episodes of True Blood around then and just felt, “Enough with these vampires, already. Come up with something new.”
(I had just written a vampire-based mystery story, too, so that may have added to my feeling of overload.)
OTOH, of course, I still love Let the Right One In, and I eagerly (read: fanatically) await the Dark Shadows movie (I was so excited about Eva Green being cast not only because she’s good but also because she’s playing Angelique — so I know Angelique will be in the picture).
Anyway, I’m getting off topic.
I know what you mean – the vampire bandwagon has been overflowing for the last couple of years – although I admit, I’m a big fan of True Blood – as well as the Sookie Stackhouse books.