Seen on: October 20, 2007

The players: Director: David Slade, Writers: Brian Nelson, Stuart Beattie, Cast: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Jon Bennett, Mark Boone Jr.

Facts of interest: Based on the graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.

The plot: An Alaskan town is invaded by fleash-eating creatures after the sun sets for an entire month.

Our quick thoughts: “30 Days of Night” has all the ingredients of a solid, modern horror flick, and it utilizes them efficiently enough to capture your attention and deliver quite a few scares that will make you want to hide away from the big screen. While David Slade’s adaptation of the popular graphic novel may not revolutionize the genre, it proves in a remarkable fashion that vampires are still just as creepy and crazy as zombies.

For once, the unique setting of a small and isolated Alaskan town serves as the perfect playground for bloodthirsty creatures seeking to wreak havoc. Each year, the sun sets for 30 days in Barrow, causing most of its 500 inhabitants to travel south for the month. But 152 residents, including Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) and his ex-girlfriend Stella (Melissa George), stay at home, not minding the cold brought upon by the lasting darkness.

As the film opens and the last rays of sunlight are disappearing, the peace in Barrow is disturbed by the arrival of a stranger (Ben Foster), who warns Eden and the townspeople that the outside cold is not the weather, but death approaching. “Bar the windows. Try to hide. They’re coming,” he mumbles. Seconds later, the power goes off, the phones go dead and the vampires start to pop up everywhere, hungry for flesh and blood.   

At this stage, the suspenseful atmosphere that sets the mood and dominates most of the beginning of the movie transmutes into continuous hardcore action, as the vampires raid every house and feed on every man, woman and child they can find. Meanwhile, Eben and a group of survivors struggle to find the best hideout, working out perilous ways how to fight their way through town without falling victim to the evil predators lurking behind every street corner.

As suspenseful and intense as it is, “30 Days of Night” is also extremely gory. There’s graphic violence galore for every horror fan, including detailed beheadings and massive blood flow. The vampires traditionally jump on their victims, scratch their faces and take a bite of their neck. Most of the killings leave dark red stains on the snow, which are reminiscent only of a combat zone or the interior of a slaughterhouse. 

Thanks to David Slade’s efficient direction and energetic camerawork, the film moves at a fast pace and supplies its audience with enough jolts, which, I have to admit, even had me jump in my seat twice within 20 seconds. There’s also a mind-blowing aerial shot at one point that showcases a colossal attack in which dozens of vampires chase after helpless victims out in the streets. Combined with a threatening score and edgy editing, the film pulls you right into the middle of the action.

Josh Hartnett is a fine leader in the role of the sheriff, and he receives solid support from Melissa George and Danny Huston, who majestically personates one of the vampires. Acting honors however go to Ben Foster, who radically steals every scene he’s in. He did it in “3:10 to Yuma” as the nasty Charlie Prince, and he does it again here, accounting for some of the film’s early, really sinister scenes.

Freaky quote: “Board the windows. Try to hide. They're coming.” – Ben Foster

The final word: Although the plot generally doesn’t vary and some of the decisions several characters make toward the end of the movie can be questioned, “30 Days of Night” qualifies as one of those horror films that capture your attention and offer you a great time without necessarily including anything new. Sounds like the trip is worth the price of admission.