Directed by the Spierig Brothers, Daybreakers takes place in a world already occupied by vampires, a world in which they've actually become the majority. Rather than the vampires hiding in the shadows, stalking the humans, the roles have been reversed. The final remnants of the human race are hunted by corporations hoping to market their blood as a luxury for the bourgeois class of fanged fiends, so yes, in this case the term 'bloodsucking corporations' can be taken rather literally.
Ethan Hawke plays a conflicted hematologist working for one such corporation, Bromley Marks. Hawke plays a rather interesting character, and among the various performances, his is really the one that grounds the film, as it relies on the inner-conflict and decisions of his character for much of the plot development and intrigue. Luckily Hawke is great in the role, and his role as the conflicted vampire ultimately believable.
The other large name in the movie is Willem Dafoe, who plays a man involved in the human resistance. Dafoe's character is blatantly stereotypical, and it's somewhat obvious he exists mainly to move on the plot. Thankfully though, the character isn't so distractingly obvious that it interrupts the flow of the film. Dafoe does the best with the character he is given, but it is clear his character is rather static, despite some of the quirks the writers attempted to add to his personality.
Of course I must talk about Sam Neill. Neill's character is the head of the Bromley Marks corporation, and he is of course, gloriously evil. He has made some shocking decisions in both his personal and professional life, and he makes a deliciously evil villain.
The film has a surprising bit of action in it, even considering it's a vampire flick. Luckily the action is ultimately enjoyable, despite it being somewhat Hollywood for a vampire movie (the vampires explode when staked in the heart.) The violence can seem a little convenient at times (sometimes it seems a little to easy for a newly trained human with a crossbow to find his target's heart), but again the action isn't the strong suit of the film.
The film can be looked at from a different angle, as a narrative on modern capitalist society, and can also provide an interesting new perspective if the film is approached in such a way. In the vampire-dominated world the corporate few control the literal flow of life-blood to the average citizens in society. Many are left out on the street, begging for blood, and these poor homeless vampires eventually turn into vicious rioting monsters. I won't delve further into the metaphor, but I will say looking at the film through the lens of corporate America can make for a very interesting watch.
Ultimately Daybreakers is somewhat underwhelming, but still enjoyable. The story is fun and intriguing, but what I found drawing me in most is the concept of the film. The unique 'vampire society' idea is very well executed, and makes the film extremely entertaining to watch, as billboards boast advertisements for 'Infinity White' toothpaste, and vampires are on their way to the daily grind with their blood-coffee in hand. Had the film expanded and relied more on it's unique environment and direction, I think the Daybreakers could've been a great metaphorical piece of capitalist narrative the likes of The Matrix, but the film rather chooses to descend down the path of a rather stereotypical, yet entertaining plot.
Fans familiar with creatures of the night should feel comfortable in the clutches of this film, as it offers something new and interesting. If not a big fan of our fanged friends however, the metaphor of the film might not be quite strong enough to validate a viewing for audiences looking for something more intelligent than your average fang flick.
