DAYBREAKERS (2009)
4K Ultra HD Combo Pack
Label: Lionsgate
Rating: R
Duration: 98 Minutes
Region Code: Region-Free, A
Audio/Video: Daybreakers 92008) arrives on 4K Ultra HD from Lionsgate framed in 2:40:1 widescreen in 2160p HD and 2160p HD on the accompanying Blu-ray. The 4K upgrade offers some significantly deep black levels but there's compression and artifact evident throughout. The film has a cold look about it y design, stylishly lensed, with lots of monochromatic blue hues that permeate the film, though the HDR does sets off the teal and orange highlights. Unfortunately this is not an example of a mind-blowing 4K Ultra HD presentation from Lionsgate, offering a mixed bag of clarity and deep blacks with artifacting and compression issues that detract from the overall presentation.
Duration: 98 Minutes
Region Code: Region-Free, A
Video: Dolby Vision, 2160p Ultra HD (2.40:1), 1080p HD Widescreen (2.40:1)
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with English SDH Subtitles
Director: The Sperig Brothers
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with English SDH Subtitles
Director: The Sperig Brothers
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill
The Spierig Brothers came onto the scene with the indie sci-fi zombie film Undead (2003), a film that didn't exactly reinvent the undead genre but infused it with some excellent
visual gore gags, humor and some alien-tinged sci-fi that made it a real blast. They're next film was the surprisingly big Hollywood film Daybreakers (2008) with a star-studded cast, a sci-fi/vampire mash-up that does an excellent job establishing a dystopian future where vampires have taken over the world, where humans have been forcibly been put into blood farms that looks a bit like the human power plants we saw in The Matrix. There are still small pockets of free humans but the vampire's hunt them down with a military force dedicated to capturing them. Humans are treated like cattle, imprisoned in blood siphoning facilities where they are bled dry, but the vampires have been shortsighted and have not allowed the human population to grow, so the dwindling supply of humans means that the vampires themselves are also on the precipice of their own extinction, with not enough blood to go around they begin to devolve into feral bloodsuckers called sub-siders, looking a bit like the Nosferatu of yore.
visual gore gags, humor and some alien-tinged sci-fi that made it a real blast. They're next film was the surprisingly big Hollywood film Daybreakers (2008) with a star-studded cast, a sci-fi/vampire mash-up that does an excellent job establishing a dystopian future where vampires have taken over the world, where humans have been forcibly been put into blood farms that looks a bit like the human power plants we saw in The Matrix. There are still small pockets of free humans but the vampire's hunt them down with a military force dedicated to capturing them. Humans are treated like cattle, imprisoned in blood siphoning facilities where they are bled dry, but the vampires have been shortsighted and have not allowed the human population to grow, so the dwindling supply of humans means that the vampires themselves are also on the precipice of their own extinction, with not enough blood to go around they begin to devolve into feral bloodsuckers called sub-siders, looking a bit like the Nosferatu of yore.
This new vampire world order is seemingly controlled by Bromley Pharmaceuticals, represented by smug vampire Charles Bromley (Sam Neill, Possession), whose company is working on creating a blood-substitute to solve the increasingly alarming human blood shortage. In charge of creating this hemoglobin substitute is lead hematologist Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke, Gattaca), who while working on the substitute also secretly desires a cure for vampirism. He accidentally learns of a cure through a former vampire turned human resistor named Elvis (Willem Dafoe, The Loveless), leading to him joining a band the human resistance, which puts Dalton at odds not only with his employer Bromley, but with his estranged brother Frankie (Michael Dorman) who works on a human-hunting task force.
Daybreakers is a bit of an underrated gem, it's a sort of Bladerunner-esque sci-fi/vamp film with small touches that help establish and build the bloodsucking new world, stuff like coffee shops selling blood-infused lattes, the cars with sun-screens that allow vampires to travel during daylight hours, the blood farms, it's all cool stuff. Then there's some good gore with exploding vampires, plus the make-up FX and creature designs are fantastic, the devolved sub-siders are cool looking with elongated ears, fingers and clawed feet, they're vampires that scare vampires!
Audio/Video: Daybreakers 92008) arrives on 4K Ultra HD from Lionsgate framed in 2:40:1 widescreen in 2160p HD and 2160p HD on the accompanying Blu-ray. The 4K upgrade offers some significantly deep black levels but there's compression and artifact evident throughout. The film has a cold look about it y design, stylishly lensed, with lots of monochromatic blue hues that permeate the film, though the HDR does sets off the teal and orange highlights. Unfortunately this is not an example of a mind-blowing 4K Ultra HD presentation from Lionsgate, offering a mixed bag of clarity and deep blacks with artifacting and compression issues that detract from the overall presentation.
The accompanying Dolby Atmos audio is more favorable, a robust and powerful presentation with plenty of spacial activity throughout. Dialogue is always crisp and direct, gunfire has has a piercing immediacy, and the Christopher Gordon score has some excellent depth and fidelity throughout, optional English subtitles are provided.
Extras include a rather fantastic 2-hour making of documentary, plus an equally interesting Audio Commentary with Co-Directors Peter and Michael Spierig and Creature Designer Steven Boyle. We also get a 140min short film from the Spierig Brothers, plus an artwork gallery and trailer for the film.
The 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray dual format combo arrives in a shiny black dual-hub eco-keepcase, inside you will find a pair of discs plus a digital copy of the film. The wrap and slipcover feature the same artwork which also appeared on the previous Blu-ray and DVD releases.
The 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray dual format combo arrives in a shiny black dual-hub eco-keepcase, inside you will find a pair of discs plus a digital copy of the film. The wrap and slipcover feature the same artwork which also appeared on the previous Blu-ray and DVD releases.
Special Features:
- “Making of Daybreakers” Multi-Part Documentary (121 min) HD
- The Big Picture (Spierig Brothers Short Film) (14 min) HD
- Audio Commentary with Co-Directors Peter and Michael Spierig and Creature Designer Steven Boyle
- “Making of Daybreakers” Multi-Part Documentary (121 min) HD
- The Big Picture (Spierig Brothers Short Film) (14 min) HD
- Audio Commentary with Co-Directors Peter and Michael Spierig and Creature Designer Steven Boyle
- Art Gallery HD
- Theatrical Trailer (2 min) HD
Daybreakers (2009) while not exactly unsung is a bit of an under-seen gem in my opinion, a vampire film with a sci-fi bend that really creates a world for itself, establishing the way things are right from the start and then embellishing that world with cool world-building touches, plus you have a great cast and some excellent FX work.
