Gold Coast vampires

Horrorphile

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Shedding light on DAYBREAKERS

July 17th 2007 00:05

Aussie DIY director brothers Michael and Peter Spierig, whose ultra-low budget zombie flick Undead (2003) caused a small stir in the movie underground a few years back, are currently filming a Hollywood-distributed vampire flick on the Gold Coast, southern Queensland, called Daybreakers, due for release next year.

Here’s the plot: In the year 2017, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher (Ethan Hawke) works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind.

Hmmm. Sounds dangerously similar to another Hollywood about to be released; I am Legend, the third filmed attempt at Richard Matheson’s legendary apocalyptic horror/sci-fi novel. I am Legend stars Will Smith. Daybreakers has the Hawke. Both are scheduled for release next year.

The fact that Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Claudia Karvan are joining Ethan Hawke’s vampire character in sizeable roles means there is definitely some serious acting calibre at play in Daybreakers.

But this kind of blatant studio spying and “stealing” has been going on for years. Here are some other examples: 1987 – Lost Boys and Near Dark, 1994 – Wyatt Earp and Tombstone, 1998 – Armageddon and Deep Impact, 2000 – Red Planet and Mission to Mars, 2005 – The Descent and The Cave.

I am Legend was first filmed as The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vincent Price then The Omega Man (1971) with Charlton Heston. Neither did the brilliant novel justice. Ridley Scott came close to filming the novel under its original title in the mid-90s, but the project fell apart in pre-production. Supposedly Daybreakers will be re-invigorating the vampire genre. But that’s what they all say. The vampire flicks come thick and fast these days, it’s hard to keep up with all the releases (many of which bypass the cinemas and go straight onto the DVD shelves, instead of the bin!)

Daybreakers will feature vampire designs by WETA Workshop (yay!). Check out the conceptual art at the WETA website. Hopefully they’ll do more than just the vamp effects and actually deliver us the gore too, since the Spierig brothers might have had their tongues-in-cheek, but they’re serious horrorphiles, if Undead is anything to go by.

Unfortunately sweet little on the pics front … but keep your fangs pricked.

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: bait

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Comments

6 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Cibbuano

July 17th 2007 02:56

Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

The horror genre is getting a surge of reinterest these days... you're in a good spot!

Comment by Bryn

July 17th 2007 03:32

Horrorphile

thanks Cibby,
the Orble traffic stats tell me otherwise ....

Comment by KylieW

July 17th 2007 06:11

Celebrity Obsession

There's some big names in Daybreakers. I do love Ethan Hawke.

You wonder why the studio's do the whole 'stealing' thing. Surely their profits will instantly be less if there's a very similar movie out???? Though obviously not if they keep doing it.

Interesting......

Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner

July 17th 2007 12:41

Bryn,

hadn't heard of this one before, but seems to be a good watch...Dafoe creeps me out just enough so I think I may enjoy it..

Great review!

Take care,

Nick

Comment by JohnDoe

July 17th 2007 22:05

Film & TV on DVD

Now why didn't they call you and I to help out on this, we know our vamps.

Comment by Bryn

July 18th 2007 02:18

Horrorphile

I know you and I have a vamp tale in us somewhere ... I have a werewolf one to discuss with you ...

[ Previous - MO' BAIT: The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY ]

[ Next - John Carpenter's The Thing ]

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