30 Days of Night – horror movie review
30 Days of Night is a 2007 horror film starring Josh Hartnett and the current Queen of Scream Melissa George. Since leaving Summer Bay the poor girl has faced almost continual mortal peril! She’s been in a lot of horror films basically – but she does do a cracking US accent and has lips to rival ScarJo.
So anyway, 30 Days of Night is directed by David Slade (Hard Candy, Hannibal) and based on a graphic novel by Steven Niles. It tells the story of a small, isolated Alaskan town that is pounced upon by a group of ancient and blood-thirsty vampires. Hartnett and George star as two police officers determined to lead their friends and neighbours to safety.
Barrow in Alaska – where the movie is set – is so far north that during winter the sun doesn’t rise for a month. As well as being a bit miserable, this makes for rather a sticky situation when the vampires turn up. I mean, sunlight is generally looked upon favourably when dealing with the undead – especially when you live on the edge of the earth with no means of escape. The premise of 30 Days of Night is pretty simple – survive the month and beat the vampires – but it is delivered well.
It’s a similar plot to Swedish film Frostbiten (2006
) but whilst that was more of a comical movie, 30 Days of Night was pleasantly surprising in its darkness and brutality.
After all, vampires are often viewed on screen as sexy, civilised or even mildly glittery. In 30 Days of Night they are dangerous predators – powerful, ruthless and not afraid to use their nails. They are human-ish of course, in the way they walk on two legs and have eyes, ears and a nose. But that’s where the similarities end.
I enjoyed 30 Days of Night a lot. I first saw it in the cinema but I’ve watched it since on DVD and still think it’s one of the better vampire flicks I’ve seen. It does have some flaws of course – and something of absolute fucking hilarity that I cannot wait to share with you, but generally I thought it was a pretty good film
It’s clear that it was based on a graphic novel – the atmosphere and use of colour, the dramatic, sinister score written by Brian Reitzell and the ever-so-slightly arty bits – it just has that graphic novel feeling – apologies, I’m not very good at ‘technical talk’ sometimes. But I know what I mean. Hopefully you do too.
The film is gory, with plenty of blood and death to rejoice in. Yay! The vampires are chilling to look at – dark eyes, white skin – and they make screechy animal noises – shiver. They are notably cruel as well – imagine how a cat plays with a mouse before killing it and you’ll know what I mean. I enjoyed it for the pure horror that it was, rather than a lot of the vampire stuff we’re used to where it’s all “let’s be friends” and “ahhh you guys!”
It was probably a tad too long at 113 minutes. I know, I know, I always say it but 100 minutes would have been just fine and dandy. Unfortunately I did also feel that the gripping ’30 Days of Night’ concept was rather redundant – as really, all events could have happened in a couple of days – nothing really made me think – or believe – that the film was set over a few weeks. I don’t think Josh Hartnett even grew much of a beard. Which was devastating.
My only other minor moan is a slight lack of personality. I know it’s not really that sort of film but I do like good characters and maybe a funny line or two or something a bit quirky. But 30 Days of Night is played very straight and for that reason the characters and relationships aren’t that memorable. I also didn’t love the ending but that’s a personal thing. But still, it doesn’t really matter – it was still a better-than-average horror film. Now – for the little something of absolute fucking hilarity:
Marlow, the leader of the vampires (Danny Huston) looks EXACTLY like Neil Tennant from the Pet Shops Boys. My dad first pointed it out, after we’d watched it in the cinema but I’ve since seen it a few times on the terrifying IMDB message boards as well, but it never fails to crack me up.
I mean, he was supposed to be terrifying. But everything, EVERYTHING about him – even his long black coat – screamed “I’m Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys” – talk about disconcerting! And hilarious.
Go West!
I vant to suck your blood
Great review. I remember watching this years ago and I remember loving the design of the creatures, they looked crazy! Makes me wanna watch it again after reading this! Good stuff Em! 🙂
Yay! Me too! (wanna watch it again I mean)
Thanks Jordan means a lot!!! 🙂 🙂
No worries Em! :):P
what i remember vividly from this movie also is a sweet-ass decapitation. That was savage! I usually don’t like gore, it bores me, but I remember liking it in this movie. Though these sorta movies are more action movies to me than horror movies. Horror to me is The Babadook, It Follows… not many recent examples. supernatural stuff and gore/torture stuff just ain’t horror in my book
I know what you mean! I must admit I do love gory movies but generally a lot of them are ‘one-time watches’ just for fun. Watching low-rent torture porn on Netflix is my idea of easy watching! Lol.
Obviously some ‘gory’ movies are pretty damn fine though – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the original 1974 film, that is one of my all time favourite horrors, I love it.
But I still totally agree with you, The Babadook, It Follows (though I have yet to watch it) are the REAL deal, the films that make you think, scare you, stay with you for hours…days…even weeks!
Have you see The Orphanage, the Spanish movie? I thought that was a really chilling, psychological horror. I could never watch it by myself!!!!
No but I like the sound of a Spanish thriller!! I’ll have to see if I can stream it from somewhere.
And The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is bloody great 😀
I would definitely recommend The Orphanage, well worth the watch.
Thanks Vinnie 🙂
Always happy to provide my service.
It was the first (and last, I suppose) film that ever made me cry with fear! I kid you not. I felt my eyes kind of well up, it had never happened before! Before I knew it I was crying with fear.
Different things scare different people so I hope I haven’t built it up too much (crying with fear!!!!!) but it’s still a great Spanish thriller yes 🙂
It is brilliant isn’t it!!! And to be fair it’s not that gory anyway, hardly at all by today’s standards. It’s the “vibe” that I’m digging!
Daddy-o! (just used ‘digging’ randomly and thought now I must use the word Daddy-o too lol)
Hehehehe. I’ll dfefinetely have to hunt down that film and write about it, it sounds at least like my sorta thing. Plus Vinnie recommends it too so I think I’ll like it.
And you’re right, this movie actually isn’t gory at all compared to some of the crap released today. Bar the decaptitation, it is more the atmosphere, or the vibe that you talk about that makes the movie enjoyable
I think this is in my top 5 best vampire movies. Dark, gritty, and no sparkling! Spot on review Ms Ems☺️
Thank you Ms Kim!!!
Definitely no sparkle 🙂 just long nails and fangs!!!!! I forgot how good it was really, the great response from everyone is good too – it’s a popular film! xxxxxxxx
Sparkling vampires! Honestly!😬
They’re too cute!!!! Haha.
GRRR 😦
I know, it’s ridiculous isn’t it. And imagine if vampires did ever invade! We’d have a lot of teenage girls very unprepared!!!!! Lol!!!
Sheesh! They’d be throwing themselves at them! Remember that Buffy episode with the underground club that had humans pretending to be vamps, only to become an all you can eat buffet for Spike and Drusilla? Good times!
Yes!!!! Haha “good times” love it!!! And all the silly vampire-wannabes had to be saved by Buffy!! And the all-you-can-eat buffet made me laugh!!! Hey…there must be a buffet/Buffy pun joke there somewhere! 🙂
Woo Hoo! Buffy Buffet!
I’m sure Vinnie would like a Buffy buffet!!!
I’ll bet Vinnie would love one!
Hahahahahaha!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on Claudette Melanson, Author of Dark Fantasy.
Wow – thanks Claudette! I think that may be my first ever re-blog!! Means a lot 🙂
Easily my favourite Vampire film, i love how it doesn’t hold back and yet another great cameo performance from the always creepy Ben Foster
YES!!!!!!!!!!! I was going to mention Ben Foster’s cameo and how brilliant he was, I wish I had now. I just thought I’d gone on quite a bit and didn’t want to go off on too much of a tangent. Like….erm…I always do.
But he’s great isn’t he! And actually his character stood out more than a lot of others. Maybe I should have mentioned him !!
When you see that performance next to his one in Hostage, i don’t understand why he doesn’t get big roles. he has to be in the leagues of Michael Shannon who always turn up and steal a film
I think I can sense a post coming on! One of your Star Focus ones? He’s very good I agree. I liked him in X-Men too! 🙂
i might do a top 5 underated actors/stars and he may make an appearance on there
DOOOOOOOOOO IT! (said like Captain Flash-heart in Blackadder)
my least favourite character in blackadder lol
Weirdo!
IM not weird, im Limited Edition 😛
I know you are Dazza! :p :p
All i remember about this is them hiding in an attic for what seemed like 2 years. It bored the shit out of me. Maybe if Alf Stewart had come along from Summer Bay it might have injected some spice.
Great review my little Bear Jew!
Hahaha! Alf Stewart!!! He was a bit of a tough arse actually – he would have shown them a thing or two!
Yeah I know the attic scene you mean ha ha! When they kept peeling back the paper to see if the Pet Shop Boys were still waiting outside?
Thanks Mikey B!……….Or should I say……….Hugo Stiglitz!
“the whole German army has heard of HUGO STIGLITZ”
🙂
Awww, I want to be Archie Hicox!
Isn’t that Michael Fassbender’s character?
Yeah, otherwise known as the coolest person in the film
And also known as having the biggest penis.
You talking about me again?
Jesus Mikey! Where are your ears? On your giant penis?!!
Haha yeah, my huge penis is how I keep my ear to the groung
#notsureifthatmadeanysense
#yesitmadeenoughsense
🙂 🙂 🙂
Knew that would come up sooner or later, it is one big member though.
SHAME on me! And you!
I’m just telling the truth, from what I saw in Shame, he truly is blessed in that department.
100%! I’ve never paused a film so much in my life.
And do you remember Vinster, when the Sony emails got leaked? The film bods were talking about Fassy and said “he just makes you feel bad for having average sized genitalia” – HA HA!
I can imagine you just drooling over his junk. I didn’t know that about the e-mail leaks, too funny.
Haha, in all honesty I probably didn’t. I mean…..a penis isn’t pretty.
But I do find things like that funny (mature!) and I found that Sony leaked email fucking HILARIOUS! Plus I fancy Fassy.
“A penis isn’t pretty” that comment made me laugh so much Emma.
Aww yay! I’m glad I made you laugh and it’s nice for me to think of you laughing happily 🙂 🙂 🙂
(you know what I mean though, right?)
You mean about a penis not being pretty?
Yeah!
I don’t know, the jury may be out on that one, hehe.
I know what that answer means!
Whatever do you mean Emma?
Oh yeah baby!
Your man Fassbender eh.
Wish he was my man!
I bet you do.
I apologise profusely, OF COURSE you must be Archie and yes he is the coolest guy in the world.
When he said “I hope you don’t mind if I go out speaking the Kings” with that cigarette in his hand!!!!!! WOW.
I loved this film, thought it was pretty good. Loved the comic even more though. Love Melissa George as well. She was in a great show called Hunted if you ever get a chance to see it. Great job Ems!!
Yeah it’s very good! I’ve never read any of the comics I doubt I will to be honest but when I bought the DVD I got some cool postcards included with the artwork on!
I love her too, she’s lovely! I’ll look up Hunted, thanks Geoff 🙂 🙂 🙂
Clam!!
This movie is pretty awesome – the sequel is pretty shit! Don’t watch it!!
Great post!
Love Pen!!
O _ o o _ O
Thanks Pen!!!! O _ o o _ O
I never fancied the sequel, just the front of the DVD is enough to know it’s not for me haha. It looks like 30 Days of Night crossed with Blade.
❤ ❤ ❤
Love Clam!
My Dear Clam,
The sequel was horseshit! Feel free to edit that if you want : )
Love Pen!!
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Pigshit?!!! Horseshit is fine 🙂
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Yeah it looked a bit odd! Like completely off track from the original film ha ha.
Dear Pen! Love clam : )
Pigshit???? Are we talking about Beyond Thunderdome now??????????????????
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It sucked ass!!!
Love Pen!!!!
Lol I have never seen that!!!! Maybe sloppy pigshit?!!! EEEEEW!
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Love Clam!!!!!
Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??????
Oh you must!
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Love Pen!!!
Hahahaha! SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
I’ve just looked it up, it’s a Mad Max movie?!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
It is!!!! You need to get caught up because Fury Road comes out soon!!!!!
Love Pen!!!!
O _ o ❤ ❤ ❤ o _ O
Fury Road!!! Awesome title!!!!!
O _ o o _ O ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Love Clam!!!
And it looks to be an awesome movie!!!
O _ o ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ o _ O
Love Pen!!
I trust you 100% Pen!!! “what a lovely day” lol
Nicholas Hoult is in it!!!!
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Love Clam!!!!!
I can’t even wait!! I even took the day off!!!
Love Pen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I LOVE that!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t think I’ve ever taken a day off work for a movie! I MUST DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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It’s the best!!!! Friday matinee with no one else in the theater!!! It’s HEAVEN!!!!
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Love Pen!!!
It sounds heavenly!!!!! I hate annoying people in the cinema, really grinds my gears! Is Mrs IPC going too? 😀
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Love Clam!!!!!
Nope – this isn’t her kind of movie – so I get the theater ALL to myself!!
#noarmrests
Love Pen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Haha!! That’s so true!!! “who gets the armrest?” I mean, you NEED at least one. So if someone has one, you take the other. What if the other is gone too?!!!!!!
#elbows
#pens
Love Clam! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I’m a tall person so I require a lot of leg room and those pesky armrests get in my way!!
#ilean
#pensforever
#loveclam
Love Pen!!!
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I know that feeling Eric, sometimes being tall has its advantages, but at other times it can be a hindrance.
At least you can reach stuff on the top shelf in Tesco!
That is one definite advantage.
Haven’t seen this in ages but loved your review Emma. Gosh, Melissa George has definitely been through the ringer of emotions hasn’t she?
Thanks Vinster 🙂
I haven’t watched it for a while actually but it popped into my head and I fancied reviewing it. I’d seen it enough times to remembers it pretty well!
Bless her! She’s lovely isn’t she 🙂
She is stunning, poor girl being thrust into all this horror, haha.
Well…..she was also thrust into Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds with a BEARD! Not so shabby ha ha!
I bet you wish you could be thrust his way.
I must admit I wouldn’t mind! But not when he has blonde highlights. That is very strict. Only when he has dark hair and preferably a beard. EXACTLY how he looked in Amityville Horror!
(that was far too detailed and creepy wasn’t it!)
We’re all entitled to a fetish Emma.
Just wanted to tell you I reviewed the second Sin City on my blog if you’re interested.
Fantastic as ever Vinster 🙂
Appreciate that.
It’s all true brother!
Oh how you flatter me so.
It’s all truuuuuuue!
I feel so happy when you say that.
Good!!! You should do. You have an excellent blog, great sense of humour and you keep us all together! (well, with Eric as well of course!)
Why thanks, all of us make a great team and I’m happy to be part of it.
Me too : )
And you’re part of the Peachy Ass Loving Society.
I am! Ha ha.
Hey, it’s not all scream with Melissa George, she’s a fine, muted, but screwy temptress in season one of HBO’s In Treatment, trying to get into Gabriel Byrne’s pants. It’s a good series (sadly largely forgotten) with George’s lovely lips working overtime.
I enjoy your blog. Not always my kind of films. But that’s part of the appeal.
I tell you what, I don’t care how old he is, I wouldn’t mind getting in Gabriel Byrne’s pants too! Haha. She does have lovely lips, I do really like her. I’ve not seen In Treatment but I’ve heard it’s good!
Thanks so much, that’s really kind of you! I know what you mean, I like reading about stuff I wouldn’t necessary watch too!
Thanks 🙂
I completely agree! This version of vampire is the best. The almost feral, unrelenting, emotionless kind. When the main vampire says, “God? No God“ (or something to that effect) it sent chills down my spine. Too bad you thought he looked like someone else! That would be disconcerting.
Great review of a really good movie!
Yes I remember that line EXACTLY!!!!! I can hear it in my head 🙂 they had no empathy at all did they.
Ooh I like that word – ‘feral’ – I should have used it!!!
Thanks so much 🙂 oh my god the Neil Tennant thing is SO disconcerting but so funny!!!!!
I bet. It would be like when Matt LeBlanc (Joey from Friends) was in Lost in Space and you’re like, “What the hell is Joey doing in space?”
HAHAHAHA!!!! That cracked me up!!!!!! Sooo true 🙂 🙂 🙂