One could argue that the notion of vampires does not really constitute a genre unto itself. Yes, we can all imagine various stereotypical vampire stories, from the classics (Dracula) to the tragic (Only Lovers Left Alive) to the meta (What We Do in the Shadows.) Recently, the Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake has made a good argument for returning to the basic cinematic roots of vampire stories. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of strange vampire remixes out there. And a few, rare vampire films even assert that maybe the entire conceit of bloodsuckers could be viewed less as horror and more as science fiction.
If the Underworld series is the extreme, gonzo end of vampires-as-science fiction, then the 2005 film Daybreakers represents the underrated indie attempt. With this low-key cult classic, Ethan Hawke starred as a vampire who refused to drink human blood, which created a fascinating study on how to subvert expectations. Fifteen years after its release on January 8, 2010, Daybreakers is better than it has any right to be and will turn any non-horror fan into someone who is at least vampire-curious.
