Hello, horror fans. Welcome to this edition of Underrated Horror Movie of the Month. Twice per month, I come here to discuss a genre film that I feel is underrated and underloved. The world of horror is vast, and many movies get lost in the sea of offerings. Others get a bad rap for one reason or another. For the latter, I delve into why viewers rate it poorly. In any case, the purpose of this column is to draw attention to a fascinating piece of media. In this edition, I present the 2009 vampire flick starring Ethan Hawke, Daybreakers. Stick around to find out why I think it deserves more love.
About Daybreakers
This film is a new take on the classic vampire tropes. It is set in 2019, 10 years in the future from the release and the infamous blood-sucking creatures no longer have to hide in the shadows. Vamps have become the dominant race having killed or turned almost all of the humans. The only ones left are either used as livestock or are part of a small band of rebels.
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Now, the blood supply is dwindling, and starvation is causing the vampires to become volatile monsters. One vamp is determined to find a way to save the human race. Only time will tell if the world will descend into chaos or if salvation is on the horizon.
This film stars Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, Willem Dafoe, Harriet Minto-Day, Damien Garvey and Jay Laga’aia. Michael and Peter Spierig wrote and directed the film. The runtime is one hour and 38 minutes.
Daybreakers has a 69 percent Tomatometer Score, a 49 percent Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.4/10 on IMDb.
My Thoughts
As always, I dove through online reviews to understand why this film is not better rated. There were a few concerns viewers expressed, including a lack of connection with the characters and disappointment with the ending. Others took issue with the fact that the lore was similar to other vampire movies, and some thought the action was lacking.
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Beginning with the story, Daybreakers is part vampire tale and part post-apocalyptic story. It shows a future where bloodsuckers have dominated, and humans are on their way to extinction. Strangely, even though they are incredibly advanced, this also means the vamps can’t survive. It is certainly a fascinating take on the oversaturated genre that carries the potential for a cinematic universe.
I can get on board with the idea that the ending is somewhat disappointing. However, it was not enough for me to lose interest in the film or not want to watch it again. To me, it gives a fresh face to the subgenre. Instead of vamps lurking in dark corners or luring unsuspecting people to their homes, they are the primary species.
Regarding the lack of action, I disagree. While there are no constant back-to-back sequences, it does have its moments. The story does not allow for tons of action, but it is there to further the plot when needed.
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The settings, atmosphere and visuals are incredible in Daybreakers. These aspects alone make it worth watching. The landscapes, the vamps’ eyes, the science equipment, all incredible. Also, the gore is splatter-tacular. It is most certainly used for shock factor more than anything else, but that does not lessen the effect.
Finally, I want to mention the cast. Ethan Hawke has become something of an icon in the horror world. From The Purge to Sinister to Black Phone, Hawke is no stranger to the creepy and freaky. The same can be said of Willem Defoe. Sam Neill does not have the same horror chops as the other two, but he makes an excellent vampire leader.
Final Thoughts
If you want to give this vamp flick a go, it is streaming on Hulu. Is it the best thing you will watch all year? No, but it is worth the time and effort. I watch it every so often and have yet to put it in the do-not-watch-again pile. Take that as you will.
Have you seen Daybreakers? If so, do you think it is underrated? Let me know in the comments! Until next time, horror fans, stay spooky and watch more horror movies. Before you go, check out this movie’s trailer below.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/mary-had-a-little-lamb-horror-movie-review/
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