Daybreakers

(WARNING: THIS MOVIE ISN”T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART)

Those Spierig brothers are at it again (Undead, 2003)! And this time, these aren’t your average Twilight vampires. They won’t protect you from werewolves. These vampires will slash, bash, and gash just to get that last drop of human blood, or die trying.

The year is 2019. 10 years ago, a plague has transformed much of the world’s humans into blood-sucking vampires. Now, only 5% of the human population remains. Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke, Training Day) is a vampire scientist (yes, I know, great original vampire name) trying to find a blood substitute for the dwindling human blood supply, because if the vampires do not get the required amount of blood, they would mutate into demonic winged creatures called subsiders and have an uncontrollable urge for human blood. He has no one to turn to with his prospects for finding a cure to save humanity. With his brother Frankie (Micheal Dorman, Walnut) is the army and a human hunter, and with the company he works for being a house for human cattle, it seems that all Edward can do is wait for the Vampire race to die out. While on his way home, Edward ends up in a fender bender with an SUV containing some of the last free humans. Soon after, the police arrive and Edward hides the humans in his car, proving to the humans that he is a trustworthy vampire that will help them with their cause. After making contact with a human woman who was in the SUV, Edward sets up a meeting with a human that has discovered a possible cure to the vampirism. And with the whole vampire population on the brink of world wide famine, could this human know the cure?

This movie was crazy! The directors gave the audience some good ol’ fashioned vampires that don’t play footsie with humans. And with bodies exploding, heads being ripped off, guts flying through the air, it’s nice for people who don’t really enjoy the gore genre to have a great actor as a companion through this demonic hell. Ethan Hawke was at the top of his game, and with costars such as Sam Niell (Jurassic Park I and III) and Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), the chemistry between these vampires were a thousand times better than the supposed vampire chemistry in the Twilight series.

However, the special effects weren’t as up to date with technology as some movies, such as Avatar and Transformers, are. Also, some of the scenes were just rushed through, while other seemingly unimportant scenes were dragged on far too long.

Overall, this movie isn’t a must see, yet a great movie for fans off blood spewing, gore splattering action. But if you’re looking for a sappy human-vampire love story, you’re looking in the wrong theater.

2 1/2 stars out of 4

Orphan

Okay, take this from a person who HATES horror movies because he gets scared really easily. This is not, I repeat NOT, a scary movie. But this movie is still really good. From the beginning where you watch how traumatizing a still birth can be on a mother to the climatic end where everything starts to fit into place about Esther, you are on the edge of your seat, popcorn rushing into your mouth faster than ever, heart beating like you’re running a marathon, and the soda is gone before you know it.

Ok, so as I mentioned before, the beginning starts out with Kate Coleman having a flashback on her still birth. While trying to deal with their loss, they decide to adopt an older child. a girl, for their deaf daughter to look up to. While at the orphanage, John stumbles up stairs and finds Esther, a very bright and mature little girl that came to the U.S. from Russia. Well, Dad and Esther click immediately and about 10 minutes later, Esther is coming to the Coleman’s home. As the movie progresses, you learn that Kate is a recovering alcoholic and weird things have been happening around Esther lately. A girl she didn’t like somehow broke her ankle, a nun who is suspicious of Esther turns up dead (you watch Esther take care of her with a hammer), and the Coleman’s son, Daniel, is somehow trapped inside his tree house that is on fire. After someone AGAIN tries to kill Daniel when he is in the hospital, Kate cracks and hits Esther, which leads to her being trapped in the hospital and receiving a shot to knock her out, while her deaf daughter and oblivious John are home alone with Esther. Will Kate be able to save her family after everyone has turned on her because of her beliefs about Esther? Or will she be to late?

(Note: Do not see this movie if you are having thoughts about adoption)

3 stars out of 4

Sweeny Todd

Yes, I know Johnny Depp stars in this movie. Yes, I also know this movie is a musical/goth movie. And no, I don't have a problem saying I enjoyed this movie.

OK, so this movie is centered around Sweeney Todd, a weathered man traveling to London on a boat with a dark and disturbing past. Turns out, ol’ Sweeney (Formerly known at the time as Benjamin Barker) had a perfect life as a barber with a beautiful wife and baby girl. One day, a man named Judge Turpin, one of the most powerful judges in the city, sees Todd’s wife and wants her. So if you were a man in power and were used to getting what you wanted, what would you do? That's right, he took her and her baby, while Todd was sent away (you never learn where to). Well, Todd wants revenge and doesn't want just to kill him, he wants to kill him with his trusty razors. And with a loyal woman at his side that needs a new SPICE for her meat pies, there is no stopping the deranged duo.

Although the blood in this movie looks a little like fruit punch, this movie is still gruesome and shows what level people would sink to in order to get revenge. Plus, the songs aint half bad.

3 stars out of 4