How do you know you and your friends are geeky? When after watching a movie you debate what happens in the world after the movie, specifically how the population would be affected sans in malthusian terms. I enjoyed this film because its a film that I believed started with a concept and not the stars. Although better acting and a more developed story (I don’t remember but I believe the film was little over 1hour 40 mins, they had more time if they really wanted to). It’s also commendable that they didn’t go the B-movie route of a little more nudity than was really warranted by the story (half-lie, the movie lover in me commends, the man does not, you had isabel lucas and you didn’t even try? come on…). Another weak point of the film is the relationship between sam oniel and her daughter. (spoiler alert)You’d save your daughter by turning her to a vamp, but you didn’t think about force feeding her he blood rations? All in all I went with little expectations and was thus delightfully surprised with what I saw.
What we have here is a high-concept film that brings up existential questions, Malthusian economics, and parasite biology (For a parasite to be successful, it must not only refrain from killing off its host but also ensure that the host thrives. See the toxo that lives in cats. Compared to toxo the vampire organism is greedy and stupid). However the filmmakers’ skills are strictly B-grade: cheap shock tactics from the Salem’s Lot school, blood and gore splattered across the screen, and ham acting from Neill and Willem Dafoe as the human rebel leader. Ethan at least takes the movie seriously (We still love him, even if one shot caused Noel and I to gasp, “Malaki na ang balakang ni Ethan!”)
So Daybreakers is an entertaining mix of the clever and the cheesy; we’ll call it Camembert. My rating: If you can spot existentialism, Malthusian economics, and parasite biology in a B-movie, String! (The best way to enjoy the movies is to entertain yourself.) If you like fangs, blood, gore, Kibble. If you expect a prestige project, Litterbox.
via 13*. Daybreakers: the Malthusiastic vampires | JessicarulestheUniverse.