Director: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig Writer: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig Co-starring: Ethan Hawke (as Edward), Willem Dafoe (as Elvis), Sam Neill (as Charles Bromley), Claudia Karvan (as Audrey Bennett) Genre: Thriller, Horror, Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Filming: Filmed in Queensland, Australia. Isabel started shooting her scenes in August 2007. Budget: $20m Box Office: $15m opening weekend (US). $49m so far worldwide. Runtime: 98 mins

Edward Dalton is a researcher in the year 2019, in which an unknown plague has transformed the world’s population into vampires. As the human population nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or find a blood substitute before time runs out. However, a covert group of vampires makes a remarkable discovery, one which has the power to save the human race.

UK – January 6th 2010
US – January 8th 2010
Australia – February 4th 2010
Spain – February 26th 2010
Italy – March 19th 2010

DVD (US) – May 11th 2010
DVD (UK) – May 31st 2010
DVD (Aus) – June 15th 2010

Photos: Gallery at Isabel Lucas Online
Videos: Trailer #1

• The film has an environmental message, which Isabel explains: “We’re running out of fossil fuels, oils and water in much the same way vampires are running out of blood sources.”
• Isabel apparently has only a limited role, with about 10 minutes screen time.
• Premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2009.
• Directors Peter and Michael Spierig have talked about the possibility of a sequel.
• Directors Michael and Peter Spierig say there are no deleted scenes, because they shot the film “very economically”.

» Isabel – “My first audition was the worst I have ever done, ever. It was quite an extreme scene of going from crying to brutally stabbing her father. It was a huge challenge and I just thought ‘Well thanks for having me in, but I know that I will never come back for this one’.”

» Isabel – “It’s healthy to be nervous and I am sure I will be on the first day of shooting.”

» Isabel – “They’re different vampires; they’re much more classic [the difference between Twilight and Daybreakers]. 95% of the population of the world is now vampires, and there are 5% of fugitive humans on the run. My character is human, and she’s trying to protect the human race. It’s blood-deprived vampires who turn into bat-like creatures, which is where the CGI and make-up team come in. And they did an insane job there.”

» Isabel – “I’m learning so much every day, I feel like a sponge trying to soak it up.”

» Isabel – “My new character will be completely different to the sweet, earthy, hippy child I play in Home and Away. This girl is a real survivor, she’s in physical fights and the innocence is gone from her. At first she was meant to be a lot colder, but the directors have made her more human. It works better on the emotional side.”

» Isabel – “I didn’t have many scenes with [Ethan Hawke], but I know him now as a talented writer, very innovative and just cool.”

» Isabel – “My father is played by Sam Neill, who is a vampire, so my character is something of a fugitive just trying to stay alive. Working with Sam was amazing. He’s got such a presence, and he really commanded respect on the set. To work with Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe was wonderful. I felt so appreciative to be working with people who have so much experience.”

» Michael Spierig (director) – “We split into two units so Peter would be directing Ethan and Willem and I would be off directing Sam Neill and Isabel Lucas in another scene. So we had to split up every now and then and shoot two units at the same time.”

» Peter Spierig (director) – “We were able to get the material to Willem and Sam and a fantastic Aussie cast as well and they all responded positively almost straight away and were happy to come on-board. This is our first sort of big actor, big star experience and I know that that doesn’t happen very often that you get all your first choices or you get your very first or second choices. It’s pretty rare, so we’re very lucky.”

» Peter Spierig (director) – Michael and I had never seen Isabel’s show, but after the audition it was clear that she was the standout. She brought an honesty and a vulnerability to her role.”

» Michael Spierig (director) – “It was a joy to watch Isabel work with Sam. She really held her own, and given where her character goes and the kind of choices she has to make, Isabel committed to the part completely.”

• CinemaBlend.com: “Luckily Isabel Lucas brings some life to the film’s female roster. She has only a few scenes, but manages to make them memorable.”
• Collider.com: “All of the bloody fun is there, but there’s also depth – which is at its most explosive when detailing Bromley’s plagued relationship with his daughter. One of the most suavely campy and devilish of the “bad guys” offers the most heart-wrenching moments as the audience feels their way through his relationship with daughter Alison (heart-tuggingly played by “Transformers” Isabel Lucas).”
• HitFix.com: “Isabel Lucas, who is probably best known to audiences as the blonde hot robot shapeshifter in “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen,” does sad, heartbreaking work as Neill’s daughter, and it might be my favorite stuff in the film in terms of selling the reality.”
• UrbanCineFile.com.au: “But it is Sam Neill as the blood entrepreneur, who caters for all markets who steals the film; his Charles Bromley is a juicy villain we love to hate. (Isabel Lucas is appealing as his rebellious daughter.) Charles Bromley … who is prepared to sacrifice his own daughter (Isabel Lucas in top form) to this end.”

• Official US Site
• Official UK Site
• IMDB.com

• Amazon.co.uk – Purchase DVD
• Amazon.com – Purchase DVD
• Ezydvd.com.au – Purchase DVD