Daybreakers breaks the vamp drama mold

The closing film for this year's Fantastic Fest was the upcoming Daybreakers (to be released Jan. 8) from the Spierig Brothers.  It has been six years since they brought us the frenetic, high energy, low budget Undead (2003). Following up their fan-boy flick, that was decent for what it was. Undead had lots of laughs and over the top effects, while Daybreakers is better written, casted, and has a better plot.

The year is 2019, and it has been ten years since the plague that turned the majority of the population into vampires.

Instead of our normal day-to-day world, we now see a world that comes alive at night, and sleeps during the day. A world that offers public address warnings as to how far away sunrise is. Coffee is served with blood instead of cream, and cars are equipped with cameras for those that must travel by daylight.

Ed (Ethan Hawke) is a hematologist that has been seeking a substitute for human blood, because the supply is quickly disintegrating. Ed has an accident and collides with a group of humans who are on the run, because they don't want to be farmed for their blood, and his encounter turns his world upside down. 

 With a cast that includes not only Hawke, but is supported by the likes of Willem Dafoe (Antichrist, 2009) and Sam Neill (The Tudors), the film has many strong points, and is generally a good watch.

It is not your normal vampire flick. And while some will compare it to Underworld (2003) and UltraViolet (2006), Daybreakers has a different viewpoint and offers hope.