Directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig. Starring Harriet Minto-Day, Jay Laga'aia and Damien Garvey. Horror/Sci-fi. Austrlia/USA, 98 minutes. UK-15

DVD release date 31st May 2010. DVD RRP: £19.99. BUY NOW

In the near future almost every human has been turned into a vampire due to plague, but as time runs out and the human race nears extinction, something has got to give. A small band of humans may have made a discovery that could lead to the solution for everyone and the salvation of the human race.

‘Daybreakers’ has been a long time coming. I remember back in 2003 importing a film on Australian DVD that I had been reading about. That film was ‘Undead’, the first cinematic outing from Michael and Peter Spierig, and it was an insanely wild and imaginative ride that was not forgotten easily. So time went on and fans waited eagerly to see what these brothers would do next. In 2007, their new film was announced. The fans got excited. The film was shot and then seemingly vanished again. It began to look like we may never get to see ‘Daybreakers’ and then finally it was being released on cinemas. But wait, what’s this, the BBFC are making 3 cuts of “very strong gory violence” to the film for a 15 certificate…

Relax buddy! Those cuts have been waived for the DVD release and the film has been awarded its original 18 certificate. Finally we can enjoy ‘Daybreakers’ as it was meant to be seen all that time ago, in its full gory glory.

‘Daybreakers’ opens with a very cool scare (turn your DTS up very loud) and then follows up with a very interesting scene about the reality of immortality. The film then draws the viewer deep into the world of vampires through a very well thought out and beautifully created opening credit sequence. Shots of the city set the scene and include cleverly incorporated news reports, tongue in cheek posters and other visual aids to guide us through the history leading up to a not so far off future where humanity has virtually been destroyed. Everyday signs, which don’t seem out of place, are slightly altered due to catering for the majority of vampires now, my personal favourite being the school zone between 2am and 3am. This distorted view of reality helps set the scene and makes you realise that this is a very dark and sometimes overwhelming and comedic view of an age-old story.

The film is a great comment on our society but it can still be enjoyed as a piece of entertainment. Vampires still have the same worries and fears as humans and we can see our everyday worries in an almost amusing way.

The film, as expected, is a very stylish and slick entry into the vampire genre. It is beautifully shot and edited and the Spierig brothers have taken a lot of time and care to craft something that is amazing to look at. There are so many unusual angles and inventive shots which really help the film to stand out. The brothers are very visual directors and we can count on them to give us a real treat with the eye candy. There are so many small touches that just look great on screen. The subtle glow in the eyes of the vampires that is enhanced in the train station as the lights flicker is just perfect. The film is bathed in a cold blue, which makes everything look undead and clinical. This works particularly well with the regular splashes of red blood. Did I say splashes? Think that may be an understatement…

Ethan Hawke leads a fantastic cast. He is just full of coolness as usual. Hawke plays a very unusual and conflicted hero. Sam Neill is very creepy and once again makes the perfect bad guy. Some of his shocking choices really make us despise him, for he truly is a monster in every sense of the word. It is so enjoyable to watch Willem Dafoe as always. Here he plays a character that you just love, he seems like he is having so much fun in the role. Kicking ass and handing out several very cool and amusing one-liners. The three main characters work so well together and really create a sense of animosity between the humans and vampires, but they also portray an unwanted need for each other.

The film is full of great visual effects, both computer generated and practical, a good balance of both. The Subsider creature effects are actually stunning. They seem so realistic yet so monstrous at the same time, we almost feel sympathy for these poor creatures. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into making something that would be recognisable but yet not generic. They are a lot of fun and ultimately create a great deal of bloodshed.

No doubt a lot of people would have missed ‘Daybreakers’ on its theatrical run as when it did finally appear it vanished just as fast and went under the radar for most. This is the perfect opportunity to either see it for the first time or to revisit the film if you enjoyed it before. It is just as much fun the second time around and there is a lot in the background you may have missed. For fans of vampire and action films you can’t really go wrong. There is a lot to offer, and if you don’t take it to seriously a good time should be had by all. There is plenty on this release to get your teeth into…

The Blu-Ray (and DVD) contains great extras which one would hope for after viewing all of the goodies on the disc for ‘Undead’. It is so delightful to watch as the brothers create their first Hollywood masterpiece in a documentary spanning the entire production and playing out for just over 2 hours. It is also great to finally see their short film ‘The Big Picture’ made in 2000 which is a lot of fun. An insightful and friendly audio commentary and several other smaller bonuses will keep you busy for quite some time after you have finished watching the film itself. Just remember to be finished before sunrise!

Russell Gomm.

© London FrightFest Ltd. 2000-2010
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GORE IN THE STORE
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