Daybreakers

Just when you thought it was safe to go out again, another vampire movie swoops in. DAYBREAKERS, made by Aussie filmmakers the Spierig Brothers, who previously made the low-budget zombie flick UNDEAD, takes another angle on tried (or should that be tired) and tested bloodsucker sub-genre. In their version, most of the world’s population has been turned into vampires, with the few remaining humans either on the run, or captured in blood farms run by a huge corporation headed by Charles Bromley (Sam Neill). You see, the vampires have accepted their immortality, but rather than leading a life of decadence they maintained a world of urbanity, but this is under threat as the supplies of human blood is dwindling causing the vampires to mutate. Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) is a scientist working for Bromley in developing a synthetic blood (TruBlood anyone?) that will resolve the impending haematic drought. One evening he meets Audrey (Claudia Karvan), a human survivor who introduces him to Lionel Cormac (Willem Dafoe) who may have the answer to all their problems.

For fans of the toothy undead this is a welcome return to guileless predatory form that sticks close to the generally accepted mythology – wooden stakes kill, sunlight incinerates, human blood is required – no fey, sparkling skinned vamps in this one. Unfortunately, despite its futuristic setting and attempts at metaphor (bloodsucking corporations) and adhering to the mythology it is hampered by clunky exposition-filled dialogue and a story that really isn’t as clever as it thinks it is, especially as it leaves you questioning what is happening on screen. The excellent cast struggle to deliver the lines with any real believable conviction, which makes the True Blood TV series seem so much better than it already is. On the other hand the movie works well on a visual level. The colours are as drained as a vampire’s victim, the special effects and prosthetics (from WETA – again) are excellent, and the action set-pieces and visual onscreen tension keep you engrossed – until the talking starts.

Of all the vampire/zombie movies released recently DAYBREAKERS is one of the better ones, and with an ending clearly aimed at a sequel it is worth checking out, just don’t go in with high expectations and you won’t be disappointed.

DAYBREAKERS is in cinemas from January 6, through Lionsgate

www.daybreakersmovie.co.uk