Daybreakers
#11 - Daybreakers
SUMMARY (courtesy of IMDB)
In the year 2019, a plague has
transformed almost every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood
supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a
researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.
REVIEW (spoilers ahead)
Yes, I know what you’re thinking: Oh no…she’s reviewing another vampire movie… Please withhold the eye-rolls and deep sighs for afterwards if you still need to.
This movie is one of the most original vampire movies I have
ever come across. Vampires have spread so much, that most of our civilization
is made up of vampires in this movie…so much so that there is only 5% of the human
population left. The idea simply amazes
me, and the acting, though many may think, Ethan
Hawke? Seriously?, is quite good. Do
not underestimate this actor. He is very
good in this movie, and alongside Willem Dafoe and Sam Neil, he proves himself. Sam Neil is delightfully charismatic and evil
and everything that a vampire should be.
Willem Dafoe gives the movie a feel of being lived in, of having a
rugged and natural quality to it, and I simply love him portraying a vampire
who has been turned human, but without a heartbeat, making him an eternal
human. I love the concept, and these
actors really bring it to life.
What I enjoy most about this movie is that it doesn’t really deal with any weird romance between a human and a vampire, or even necessarily glamorize vampires. I mean, they’re pretty, I guess, and they’re also still scary, but it shows how much a vampire can envy the life of a human. It shows the psychology of a vampire only having half of a life, and not a real one. Ethan Hawke’s character, a vampire hematologist, shows an envy of the humans and the fact they are not reliant on one source of life. An envy of the fact that humans can exist in both worlds, without having to rely on only one food for sustenance. I love seeing the reversal. Especially when it is shown that there are people who have no desire to become vampires.
In fact, there’s a great set of lines that explains it. Hawke’s character asks, “Aren’t you scared of dying?” and the woman’s response is, “Yes, but most of us are too scared of death to think of it as an option. I guess that’s why so many turned.”
Great line. It sort
of explains our fascination with the mythology of vampires. It’s the idea of escaping death and then
having the freedom to do whatever you want without ever having to fear
suffering consequences for your actions.
It’s an escape from the normal, human rules of morality and
responsibility.
All in all, an amazing movie. Language and gore, of course, but worth it for the fascinating ride that it takes you on.
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