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Though it arrives during an unfortunate glut of vampire movies, Daybreakers offers enough dark sci-fi thrills -- and enough of a unique twist on the genre -- to satisfy filmgoers.
All Critics (147) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (48) | DVD (4)
Daybreakers is the pinnacle of fun, modern sci-fi horror actioners. May 6, 2011 | Rating: A | Full Review…
Daybreakers is the pinnacle of fun, modern sci-fi horror actioners.
C. Robert Cargill
Interested in societal collapse - that is, when it's not more interested in the super cool way these vampires explode when stabbed Jan 10, 2010 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Interested in societal collapse - that is, when it's not more interested in the super cool way these vampires explode when stabbed
Amy Nicholson
Hawke gives his all here -- or maybe just half his all -- and it isn't quite enough: He's trying to be soulful, but he really just looks a little tired. The real delight is Willem Dafoe. Jan 8, 2010
Hawke gives his all here -- or maybe just half his all -- and it isn't quite enough: He's trying to be soulful, but he really just looks a little tired. The real delight is Willem Dafoe.
Stephanie Zacharek
For the lowbrow, the thrill is a level of fleshy explosiveness reminiscent of David Cronenberg's Scanners. No one dies quietly; he must either detonate like Hiroshima or burst into juicy red chunks of viscera. Jan 8, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
For the lowbrow, the thrill is a level of fleshy explosiveness reminiscent of David Cronenberg's Scanners. No one dies quietly; he must either detonate like Hiroshima or burst into juicy red chunks of viscera.
Kyle Smith
Daybreakers is more fun than foreboding; it's fright-lite, yet that's par for the bloody course in these busy apocalyptic days. Jan 8, 2010 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Daybreakers is more fun than foreboding; it's fright-lite, yet that's par for the bloody course in these busy apocalyptic days.
Rick Groen
The narrative may flag, but the doomsday atmosphere and George Liddleâ(TM)s production design remain vivid until the final, blood-splattered reel. Jan 8, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
The narrative may flag, but the doomsday atmosphere and George Liddleâ(TM)s production design remain vivid until the final, blood-splattered reel.
Jeannette Catsoulis
Packs a punch on so many fronts - original story ideas, creatively gross fight scenes, acting that's hammy in a fun way - that you'll leave the theater feeling soundly entertained. May 25, 2018 | Full Review…
Packs a punch on so many fronts - original story ideas, creatively gross fight scenes, acting that's hammy in a fun way - that you'll leave the theater feeling soundly entertained.
Annalee Newitz
Michael and Peter Spierig have created a fascinating and chillingly believable possible future. May 18, 2018 | Full Review…
Michael and Peter Spierig have created a fascinating and chillingly believable possible future.
Shelagh Rowan-Legg
Campy laughs, serious storylines, scary creatures, blood, guts, and thrills - "Daybreakers" seems to have it all. And while it might not come together in a perfect package, it's most definitely a fun package. Apr 10, 2018 | Full Review…
Campy laughs, serious storylines, scary creatures, blood, guts, and thrills - "Daybreakers" seems to have it all. And while it might not come together in a perfect package, it's most definitely a fun package.
Monika Bartyzel
A supine memorial to missed opportunities and frustrating directorial choices. Sep 8, 2017 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
A supine memorial to missed opportunities and frustrating directorial choices.
James Rundle
A rock-solid afternoon matinee sort of movie, packed as it is with so many disparate genre influences. Confidently crafted and legitimately clever. Aug 26, 2015 | Full Review…
A rock-solid afternoon matinee sort of movie, packed as it is with so many disparate genre influences. Confidently crafted and legitimately clever.
Scott Weinberg
A slick, violent, and intensely gloomy horror/action/sci-fi hybrid that stands out in a crowded field of end-of-mankind movie scenarios. Sep 24, 2014 | Full Review…
A slick, violent, and intensely gloomy horror/action/sci-fi hybrid that stands out in a crowded field of end-of-mankind movie scenarios.
Laura Kern
In spite of its intriguing idea and a good cinematography, this is a safe movie that never goes deep enough into the possibilities of its premise, relying on many coincidences and contrivances, and with an attempt at a "message" in the end that disappoints.
Super Reviewer
Again I must go against many bad reviews here as I quite liked this vampire tale. Some of the ideas in this film are really good, I loved how the human race has adapted to being vampires by building huge tunnel walkways under the cities (like subways) for getting about during the daylight and how cars are kitted out with daylight protection and UV alerts. It's really quite cool and I would love my car to be like that hehe I also like the look of the vamps in this universe, simple pale faces with yellowish clear eyes that reflect light wonderfully, simple but effective and not everyone is a good looking gaunt vamp either which is more believeable. Other little bits like the death of a vampire when exposed to sunlight or struck through the heart was nice too, good explosions and ember usage although not a very original way of doing it. Much like the plot and the now overused 'world has been infected by virus leaving only a handful of resistance' story. Things I didn't like about this film was firstly the way in which Hawke changes back to a human, I don't get how that worked, he just flashes himself to the sun for a few seconds??...huh?. Second was the casting of Dafoe and his character. Willem just didn't seem into it properly if you ask me, he wasn't given much to do and his acting was beyond normal cheese levels where as the rest weren't too bad, I stress weren't too bad, Neill being the best of course. Lastly was the mutation of vampires into bat-like Nosferatu looking vampire creatures if they didn't get blood to feed on. I just felt that was stupid and not needed, why would they change into big bats??. Just about on par with the first 'Underworld', just.
Vampirism has spread throughout humanity to the point where they vastly outnumber the normal humans who have been turned into livestock to replenish the rapidly diminishing stocks of blood. Daybreakers was a really nice surprise. In the seemingly endless parade of pointless vampire films it has a really fresh feel to it as it puts a different spin on the idea rather than rehashing the same old schtick. Ethan Hawke has made a career out of playing off beat, vulnerable anti-heroes and Sam Neill and Willem Dafoe bring their usual dominating presences to the screen which combined with some really nice production design and a smart script makes for a refreshingly different fang flick. My only reservation was with the open ended conclusion which made me think that the Spierig brothers were more interested in angling for a sequel than presenting the audience with a satisfying conclusion to the story, but as a whole it's easily one of the best vampire films I've seen of late.
I liked it just for the fact it was a completely different approach on the genre than i was use to. Coming from fairly new directors Ill give them leeway on any plot holes and or mistakes made. overall i enjoyed it.
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