Daybreakers: A Decent Concept Spoiled?

[bobknowsall]

I just went to see Daybreakers with my father for the hell of it, and came out of the cinema rather stunned. I'd heard some pretty wonderful things about this film, including MovieBob's rather ecstatic review, but those expectations were dashed within (literally) the first minute of the film. For those of you who actually do want to see it, I'll just say that a throwaway character completely unrelated to the plot dies as a result of sun exposure. It's presumably meant to be horrific, but the two of us were snickering away in the near-empty theatre.

Things only got worse from there.

I loved the idea of the film, and some of the gadgets did make my inner tech-geek smile (Like the video cameras that replace mirrors, because vamps don't show up in conventional mirrors). But other than a few little gimmicks, the rest of the film is quite terribly executed. Ropey special effects, cringe-inducing dialogue (Anyone reading this could probably do a better job, which isn't saying much), and bizarre holes in logic all add up to make a rather disappointing film that could have been so much more with a little spit and polish (And a total rewrite).

My question to you is: Having seen Daybreakers, would you say the same thing, or do you think it was a genuinely well-executed bit of genre film-making?

 

[Julianking93]

I loved the movie's idea and the movie itself.

It could have been done a bit better but I still loved it.

 

[RheynbowDash]

The best thing about this movie.

Just like MovieBob said:

"The vampires act like fucking vampires!"

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

"The vampires act like fucking vampires!"

That might just be able to make up for anything nowadays.

 

[RheynbowDash]

"The vampires act like fucking vampires!"

That might just be able to make up for anything nowadays.

Especially when there are a lot of "glittery" vampire shows/movies out there.

P.S.: If you get a chance to watch the show "True Blood", do. Its awesome.

 

[Distazo]

I thought it was a good concept for a film if A. like you said it was executed well, and B. if it was released 3 years ago or maybe 7 years in the future. Right now our media is flooded with vampires and it really gets tedious. I enjoyed a historically accurate redition of actual vamps, but coming out in the same decade as the twilight atrocities doesn't bode well for it.

 

[bobknowsall]

"The vampires act like fucking vampires!"

That might just be able to make up for anything nowadays.

Well, just because Twilight came along does not mean we should settle for less when it comes to vampire fiction. Being vulnerable to sunlight is all well and good, but I want my vampires to talk like human beings too.

 

[Mbellarusa]

Bearing in mind the last part seems to want to be horrific me and my mate were just laughing constantly after it so i suppose that reflects badly on it...

 

[Samurai Jim]

I thought it was well executed for the most part. It was a fun movie and, despite the flaws, worked well and was an overall good time at the movies.

Off topic, at the very beginning where...

Spoiler

that girl commits suicide by exposing herself to sunlight, I turned to my roommate and said "Look! She's sparkling!"

 

[bobknowsall]

I thought it was a good concept for a film if A. like you said it was executed well, and B. if it was released 3 years ago or maybe 7 years in the future. Right now our media is flooded with vampires and it really gets tedious. I enjoyed a historically accurate redition of actual vamps, but coming out in the same decade as the twilight atrocities doesn't bode well for it.

I get the odd sense that it would actually get a much poorer reception if it hadn't come along around the same time as Twilight. We're so tired of sparkly non-vampires that any real ones will do, regardless of actual quality.

 

[bobknowsall]

Bearing in mind the last part seems to want to be horrific me and my mate were just laughing constantly after it so i suppose that reflects badly on it...

I did start laughing at the whole bloodbath-in-the-hallway scene. Homoerotic does not even begin to describe it.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

It wasn't the greatest movie, but it was still good, mostly due to the whole REAL vampire factor. Personally, I would have liked to see more actiony shooting scenes, seemed kinda lacking there.

 

[Jaranja]

I thought it was well executed for the most part. It was a fun movie and, despite the flaws, worked well and was an overall good time at the movies.

Off topic, at the very beginning where...

Spoiler

that girl commits suicide by exposing herself to sunlight, I turned to my roommate and said "Look! She's sparkling!"

HAHAHAHAHA! You, sir, are brilliant. You're not on my list anymore.

Anyway, I have yet to see this film and I don't think I will anyway. I've heard a lot of crap reviews from friends and teachers.

 

[zorgonstealth]

couldn't agree more

 

[twistedmic]

I think it's one of the best Vampire movies I've ever seen (or tried to watch). The vampire acted like vampires without going over the top or becoming incredibly campy. I also thought that the cure was fairly original and creative.
The dialogue may have been a bit weak but i was far from the worst I've ever heard , Sci-fi original and made for TV movies excluded of course. The effects were pretty good as well.
Finally, the beginning scene with the girl was, I think, meant to show that not everybody loved being a vampire.

 

[Sylveria]

I was really disappointed in it also, especially after seeing Bob's high praise of the movie. I can't say "X should have been better" because I can really put my finger on what let me down, except for the feeling that the movie ended an act or two before it was done. Diving off into the sunset? Seriously? What is this, A John Wayne movie? But I digress. Besides the lackluster ending it just fell flat. Yes its great to see vampires that act like vampires in the current Twi-age but its not an excuse for a mediocre movie.

To a degree, I think it was trying to go the District 9 route and do some social commentary on class and corporate corruption and control, but it missed the mark.

 

[bobknowsall]

I think it's one of the best Vampire movies I've ever seen (or tried to watch). The vampire acted like vampires without going over the top or becoming incredibly campy. I also thought that the cure was fairly original and creative.
The dialogue may have been a bit weak but i was far from the worst I've ever heard , Sci-fi original and made for TV movies excluded of course. The effects were pretty good as well.
Finally, the beginning scene with the girl was, I think, meant to show that not everybody loved being a vampire.

Well, I'd class the first two Blade films as being far better, because the vampires were also rather fascinating and carnal creatures. By which I mean they were cool, as well as being true to the vampire myth.

I'll have to disagree with you on the effects, now. They were like something from a B-Movie. They were also my main problem with the "little girl" scene. Wouldn't it have been more horrific to cut away and let the sound team supply the horror?

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

"The vampires act like fucking vampires!"

That might just be able to make up for anything nowadays.

Well, just because Twilight came along does not mean we should settle for less when it comes to vampire fiction. Being vulnerable to sunlight is all well and good, but I want my vampires to talk like human beings too.

Aha, so eloquence and sophistication must be re-added to the cauldron of vampire movie-making.

 

[Samurai Jim]

I think it's one of the best Vampire movies I've ever seen (or tried to watch). The vampire acted like vampires without going over the top or becoming incredibly campy. I also thought that the cure was fairly original and creative.
The dialogue may have been a bit weak but i was far from the worst I've ever heard , Sci-fi original and made for TV movies excluded of course. The effects were pretty good as well.
Finally, the beginning scene with the girl was, I think, meant to show that not everybody loved being a vampire.

Well, I'd class the first two Blade films as being far better, because the vampires were also rather fascinating and carnal creatures.

I'll have to disagree with you on the effects, now. They were like something from a B-Movie. They were also my main problem with the "little girl" scene. Wouldn't it have been more horrific to cut away and let the sound team supply the horror?

You're probably right that it would have been more horrifying to just have the scream. Maybe it was for all the people who thought they walked into Twilight? It honestly didn't bother me too much but it could have been more unnerving done differently.

 

[Tjaeden]

I'll just say that a throwaway character completely unrelated to the plot dies as a result of sun exposure. It's presumably meant to be horrific...

I saw it more as setting the tone of the movie - it is the psychological horror of living in a world where no one 'grows up' (as some of what was in her letter).

Immediately this put the viewer in a position to understand Ethan Hawke's character's attitude toward humans - we next see a word adapted to living as vampires - but that little girl was all that was needed to show us the cost. As MovieBob said, this movie is compact - and that intro scene sets it up nicely.

Except, I laughed SO hard when the soldier's head exploded in reaction to the test blood - man, that was awesome!