This week’s 99p movie is Dorian Gray starring Colin Firth. It is available in HD on both the iPad and Apple TV.

Watching the Daybreakers trailer on my Apple TV was a great joy of mine. Atmospheric and gritty I would watch it every weekend, hoping for a new version of the trailer. I love vampires and I was looking forward to a fresh take on the old story – and this film, for the most part, does not disappoint.

The movie Daybreakers presupposes a world run by vampires. Human beings, those that are left, are either hunted or hooked up to large blood draining machines. The human race is dwindling as the vampires capture/destroy them so time is running out on their food supply. A blood substitute is high on their list of priorities (after night tennis) and they have the best of the best working on it. What are a gaggle of vampires to do when the blood substitutes aren’t working and humans keep dying? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out but I can tell you it will be a mostly enjoyable ride.

Ethan Hawke is a specialist trying to invent the blood substitute for the vampires. As mentioned above the tests are not…well, let’s just say they need to check their formula again. While out driving one night he has an accident with a bunch of illegal humans and offers to help them. This starts a chain of events that will change the world.

The world, I should mention, is fully realized with cars that have day driving modes and where a regular coffee means a splash of blood instead of cream. For the first half the film does a great job supporting its own premise which many movies fail at miserably (hello Prince Caspian). The second half falls off a bit as the action sequences take over but I think there was still room to buttress the idea. Peter Jackson didn’t take any scenes off…

The film took a slight downturn when Willem Dafoe turned up for reason that will have to remain shrouded in mystery. His acting ability, always suspect in my mind anyway, reminded me of Liza Minelli’s performance at my local theaters reimagining of Fiddler on the Roof. You get the idea.

The film is dark, extremely gory at times and has an interesting, stark look until near the end. The story is very interesting and I would have liked to have seen another 15 minutes worth of vampire life in this new world. 3 stars. Willem Dafoe 1 star.

Below is a list of just some of the movies added today, or newly available in HD, to the iTunes Movie Store. For a complete list head over to Cinemira now.

From Paris with Love (iTunes HD Rental & Purchase)
Shutter Island (iTunes HD Rental) (Read our review)

… and more »

This weeks three $.99 movie rentals of the week are now available.

Her Alibi (HD)
Bella (HD)
The Last House On the Left (1972)

HD versions, if available, are $1.99.