Daybreakers (Lionsgate)
Bad Case of Sun Burn
Daybreakers is a movie that is fun to watch but dont try to make too much sense out of any part of its story. Just accept the fact it is all about vampires and their desire to keep a running blood supply. That leads to a lot of grizzly action on the screen in a plot made more intelligent by the inclusion of Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe in the cast.
The film takes place in 2019 when vampires rule the world. They survive on the blood of humans and ins some cases the blood of animals, but humans are the preferred drink of choice. Edward Dalton (Hawke) is a scientific researcher trying to find a blood substitute as the supply of humans is running low.
Dalton works for Charles Bromley (Sam Neill), the CEO of a huge conglomerate dedicated to supplying blood and blood products. Dalton does not like being a vampire and wishes he were still human. This is a point of contention between him and his younger brother Frankie (Michael Dorman).
One night Dalton runs into (literally) a car filled with humans. Rather than turning them into the police he helps them escape capture. This leads to his being introduced to their leader Lionel Elvis Cormack (Dafoe). Elvis offers Dalton a chance to become human once again but it has to happen quickly as the police are hot on their heels.
In the film there are regular vampires and those who are extreme vampires. These extreme types have wings and are totally barbaric. Some of the regular vampires have given into their blood thirsting ways but others, like Dalton, have managed to keep their urges under control. Why there is this disparity is not explained.
Also some vampires burst into total flames upon stepping into sunlight while with others the burning is more controlled. Again no answer is given for this differentiation. In this movie you just have to accept that what is, is what is.
The film is rated R for profanity and violence.
Ethan Hawke is good in his role. He starts out looking like Harrison Ford in Amish garb for Witness and ends up looking like Harrison Ford in action hero mode in Star Wars. Dafoe also adds to the fun of the film with his quirky personality and out of the ordinary ways. Neill is as menacing as can be.
You cant come to Daybreakers and apply logic to what occurs on the screen. You just have to accept it as an action movie that will keep you entertained for two hours. Hawke, Dafoe and Neill make sure you get your thrills and send you out into the bright sunlight of day thankful it is there.
I scored Daybreakers a dawning 5 out of 10.
