Just when I was beginning to think that the horror genre had run dry of ideas, along come the Australian Spierig brothers to prove that there's still plenty of originality left to mine if you have the talent to find it. 'Daybreakers' is one of the best horror movies in years with an intriguing premise explored in a tightly plotted screenplay that manages to be genuinely thought provoking while delivering old-school splatter gore. Several issues, including the civil rights and ethical implications of harvesting humans and curing vampirism are explored with a degree of subtlety and intelligence that is rare in most drama, let alone horror. The entire cast is excellent and the brothers Spierig direct the affair with an understanding of character, tension, action, and the value of a well placed scare that belies their relative inexperience. Production design and cinematography create a beautifully rendered vision of an urban society that only really functions after dark. Creature design, makeup, and special effects are of the highest caliber, producing perhaps the most savage depiction of vampires to date. I loved this film and hope – no, pray – that we get a chance to return to the fascinating world of the 'Daybreakers'.
Review of Daybreakers
