Iffy for 15+
Moody vampire cautionary tale is heavy on action/violence.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Daybreakers is an action-oriented vampire movie that's heavy on blood, gore, and violence -- in other words, it's no angsty, teen-friendly Twilight. Be ready for disturbing images that depict hungry vampires mutating into horrible creatures, as well as some characters enduring excruciating pain as a way to be "reborn." There's also plenty of strong language (including "f--k" and "s--t") and smoking. The movie has a slightly veiled message about the excessive consumption of natural resources, and the main character actually has admirable traits -- including honor, decency, and selflessness -- but some of that gets lost amid the over-the-top, comic book-like tone and gallons of spilled (and splattered) blood.
- Families can talk about how this movie compares to other vampire media. Why do you think vampires are so popular? Why do you think some vampire movies, etc. are so much more violent than others?
- How does the movie address the dwindling of Earth's natural resources? How did thevampires deal with the problem, and how are humans dealing with similarproblems right now? What can people do to help?
- The bad-guy vampire character and his daughter (a human) have very different beliefs. How could they have come to a compromise?
The good stuff
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Messages: While the movie doesn't have strongly positive take-aways, its story is a metaphor for humans depleting natural resources with no concern for the future. The bad guys are shown trying to earn a profit from this crisis, while the heroes continually fight for the betterment of mankind and vampirekind. Human and vampire enemies must learn to trust one another.
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Role models: Though he's a vampire, hero Edward Dalton is actually a fairly positive role model, working tirelessly on a blood substitute to sustain his brethren (and refusing to drink human blood himself, believing that he shouldn't relieve his own suffering when so many others suffer). When a better solution arises, Dalton risks his life for it. When the time comes for him to work with humans, the groups put aside their differences and learn to trust one another. Although Dalton's brother joins an evil vampire army to hunt humans, Dalton honors his family ties.
What to watch for
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Violence: Tons of fantasy violence -- it's less a horror movie than an action movie filled with fighting, gore, and some disturbing imagery (i.e. humans hanging from machines that harvest blood). The heroes wield crossbows and knives, while the bad guys generally fire high-powered dart guns (also a Taser). There Gallons of blood are shed, including guts spattering on walls, beheadings, limb-tearing, and an exploding head. In one subplot, starving vampires who are deprived of human blood begin to mutate; viewers see disturbing photos of this process.
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Sex: The heroine runs around braless and in a tank top. But the story's vampire troubles leave very little time for sex, kissing, or romance.
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Language: Several uses of "f--k"" (including "motherf--ker") and plenty of uses of "s--t." Also words/phrases like "dammit," "hurts like hell," "goddamn," and "life's a bitch and then you don't die." One character uses colorful euphemisms like "it's as safe as barebacking a $5 whore."
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters smoke a lot of cigarettes.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
for certain viewers only by hyperlasers
The vampires in this film:
1) Degenerate into mutant bat monsters without adequate blood supply
2) Die horrific fiery deaths in the sun
3) Occasionally explode.
The film itself has some pretty heavy messages against:
1) The military
2) The pharmaceutical industry.
The plot is primarily about:
1) Greed
2) Self-interest
3) Desperation.
The amount of on-screen gore is:
1) AWESOME.
You will like this film if you enjoy:
1) Real vampires
2) An edgy plot that is engaging yet easy to follow
3) Unspeakable amounts of blood and gore
4) Comic relief in the form of slow-motion, people-devouring-people carnage.
You will likely be offended if you are:
1) Affiliated with the military
2) Affiliated with the pharmaceutical industry
3) Affiliated with the GOP
4) Not inclined to watch people explode or be eaten alive.
You will be disappointed if you are hoping for:
1) A stupid romance subplot
2) An opportunity to take out the wife.
5
Good old-fashioned vampire flick by tomko44
Sick of all these damn lovey-dovey vampire?. Miss the good old days when the only good blood-suckers was a staked blood-sucker? Then this is the movie for you! But this movie wasn't just a vamp-flick. It was a statement on how quickly a society can collapse and how survival at all costs may be a price not worth paying. Only issue I have was the end... I would have changed the last 5 minutes. I think once you see it, it is obvious what SHOULD have happened.
3
At least it didn't sparkle! by StarWarsLuvr
Sorry, no offense toward the Twilight fans but it was refreshing to see evil looking vampires with fangs!! I liked "Daybreakers" for the story of vampires ruling the Earth and left few humans alive as food. That was cool!! But I felt the main characters' back stories weren't fully developed. Nonetheless, it was entertaining to the end!
4
Great! by annie patterson
If you're a ran of REAL vampires, you should see this. These vampires don't 'sparkle' in the sun, they burn, like vampires do. Shoot em with a wooden stake and they blow up. It is a little gory, with body parts being torn off and blood splattering everywhere but overall it's a good movie that sticks to most stories about vampires. Twilight made vampires seem so soft and lovable, this movie...not so much.
1
Dear Mr. Dracula- Please forgive me for supporting this film with my $8 ticket. by mr_glass_half_full
I went to this film expecting to be as great as the previews and was met with a bored theater full of chatty viewers due to the poor acting & lack of story to keep your full attention. I could have eaten a bowl of alpha-bits cereal & crapped out a better story-line. I would highly reccommend this film to annoying mother-in-laws, & anyone that needs a great reason to dry heave whilst clawing out their eyes.
1
Day Breakers will not Brighten your Day... by The Movie Guru5
I'm not sure what was going through the directors mind or the actors when they agreed to do this movie, but it stunk really bad. Bad movies always use cheap cheap scare tactics when they can't think of anything new(ex. the loud noise out of nowhere, or the dark room where nothing is visible to begin with). Regardless, this movie took cheap to another level and when the movie was over, all the people were chanting about how horrible it was. So, I wasn't the only one... Just save your money and rent it, because you would be doing yourself a horrible mistake by purchasing the dvd.
2
Coulda, shoulda, woulda. by Chris105
Great storyline, poor execution. The movie went nowhere, fast. Wait for video if that.
5
gory great time by KevinS77
Movies like Twilight and New Moon have all but neutered vampires to make them suitable for teenage girls.
But Day Breakers returns vampires to their former glory to reign supreme on the silver screen!
This movie was a bloody gory mess, it was great!
1
worst. movie. ever. by tokyo007
this is possibly one of the worst movies ever made, and i actually mean that literally. the premise had some great potential, but it quickly turned into a cornucopia of terrible acting, wretched special effects, a plot line so transparent it borders on insulting, and an endless line up of visual and dialogue cliches....
had this been a genre spoof, maybe it would have been tolerable (maybe...); as is, it reads like a group of 11 year olds on Ritalin trying to make a sequel of I Am Legend using money they stole from their aunts' purse...
2
Cheesy, predictable, sometimes funny but overall pretty corny by ruthlessbear
This movie was not at all what I was expecting. I thought the storyline would be a lot more interesting but it turned out to be rather predictable. The ending was a major disappointment. This movie combines all cliches about vampires into one really ridiculous story. I would not recommend you watch it, unless you're really bored.