Daybreakers (2009)

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.

Directors:

Michael Spierig (as The Spierig Brothers), Peter Spierig (as The Spierig Brothers)

Writers:

Michael Spierig (as The Spierig Brothers), Peter Spierig (as The Spierig Brothers)

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harriet Minto-Day	...	Lisa Barrett
Jay Laga'aia	...	Senator Turner
Damien Garvey	...	Senator Westlake
Sahaj Dumpleton	...	Homeless Vampire
Allan Todd	...	Businessman
Gabriella Di Labio	...	Businesswoman
Ben Siemer	...	Police Officer
Peter Welman	...	Police Officer
Ethan Hawke	...	Edward Dalton
Callum McLean	...	Vampire School Kid
Jarrad Pon	...	Vampire School Kid
Victoria Williams	...	Vampire School Kid
Zoe White	...	Vampire School Kid
Aolani Roy	...	Vampire School Kid
Tiffany Lamb	...	News Reader

Storyline

In a world 10 years into the future, vampires make up the vast majority of the population with only 5% of the human race remaining. This presents particular challenges as the vampires' food supply - human blood - is dwindling and rationing is now the norm. There is growing evidence that vampires deprived of an adequate blood supply are themselves evolving into wild, vile creatures that attack anyone and anything in order to survive. Dr. Edward Dalton, a vampire and hematologist who works for a pharmaceutical firm, has been working on finding an artificial blood supply that will meet the vampire society's needs. He is sympathetic to humans and sees his work as a way of alleviating their suffering but his views on finding a solution change considerably when he meets someone who found a way to transform himself from being a vampire to again take human form.

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Plot Keywords:

vampire | blood | year 2019 | rationing | vampire society | 

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Taglines:

The battle between immortality and humanity is on.

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

La hermandad

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,344,588 (UK) (8 January 2010)

Gross:

£4,185,646 (UK) (5 February 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate, Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Pictures in Paradise

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The makers of the movie hosted a contest in Worth1000.com (famous photo manipulation-contest site) to come up with images of how the world would look if nearly everyone were a vampire.

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Goofs

While a human caravan is heading back to their 'base' they get ambushed by Vampires from both sides, the humans in turn take cover on either side of their cars but they only get shot at from the side their facing, despite being 'surrounded'.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[on television]
Senator Westlake: Let's be clear about this. Humans were offered a chance to assimilate, but they refused. Therefore, they are enemies of the state and will be captured and farmed for blood supply.

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Crazy Credits

In line with the subject of the movie, the lettering of the end credits is in red, instead of the customary white.

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: The Lovely Bones/The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus/The White Ribbon (2010)

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Soundtracks

Burning Love
Words & Music by Dennis Linde
Published by Sony / ATV

User Reviews

Not the greatest, but still very good

Daybreakers is about a plague that has transformed most 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....but you already knew that. Like putting a plastic bag over some one's head, things quickly get violent and out of control.

Special effects: Moderate, not much was needed for the movie. The death of the vampires were a little more violent than usual, however the entertainment behind it balanced it out.

Plot: "Find a cure or we all die" has been used frequently before, and there wasn't much of a twist.

Setting: The setting was a dark futuristic setting, Imagine Las Vegas at night...with all white neon. Perfect setting for this movie. Worth seeing? Yes. Not worth sprinting to the theaters, however it is worth seeing. I'd give it a 7/10.

This movie is such a relief from the romantic necrophilia of the Twilight series. It's good to see scary vampires again.