30 Days of Night (2007)

30 Days of Night (2007) (see below for preview images)

Directed by David Slade
 
Based on the comic book miniseries 30 Days of Night.
 
Starring: Josh Hartnett and Melissa George
 
IMDb 6.6/10                Rotten Tomatoes 51%                        Metacritic 53/100

I have this comic book series but, I decided to watch the movie before reading it.  For once I think Rotten Tomatoes and the others got it right.
 
The film is set in Barrow, Alaska, a small town where, for one month straight every year, they experience nothing but darkness.  During this time, they find they are being overrun by hungry vampires, hungry for both power and blood.  There are no flights in or out of the area for the whole month.  Most of the town typically goes South for the winter but, for the few that stuck around, it is a nightmare come true.  The majority of the ones who stayed in town are soon killed and the few that remain must ban together and do whatever it takes to survive the full thirty days until they see the sun rise once again.
 
Now, we have all seen a number of vampire horror movies.  They’ve really done pretty much everything they can with the topic.  And still, I found this movie to be fairly entertaining.  I do have to admit that the weird, screeching sound the vampires make is NOT pleasant and thankfully it seems that the filmmakers chose not to use it TOO much. I still like the idea of vampires that speak English and walk amongst us, fooling us with their trickery and deceit, but this was a nice spin on the whole subject for me.  
 
The vampires were definitely disgusting and scary looking.  They had constant dried (or fresh) blood on their chins pretty much at all times.  Like I said though, I would have preferred that they spoke real words instead of the horrible screeching that served as their voices.  Although, when they all “yelled” at once, if you heard that in person you would definitely be scared and run for your life.  Unless, of course, you’re like a vampire hunter or something where you run towards the danger instead of away from it.
 
And now, about Josh Hartnett.  I have to be honest, I do NOT understand why chicks go gaga over this guy.  Is it just me or does he always look like he’s squinting as if he needs glasses?  And personally, I don’t buy him as a town Sherriff.  I mean seriously.  He still looks like a kid to me and even the character’s personality in the film didn’t fit that of a Sherriff.  I’m actually still waiting to find a film that Josh Hartnett stars in which he actually does a great job at portraying his character.  I don’t understand the whole heartthrob sensationalism around him and I don’t think he has superior acting ability.
 
That being said (as it very much needed to be), the film wasn’t horrible and is definitely worth the watch.  I AM glad that I didn’t buy this one and only recorded it on DVR.  I don’t think it’s one I’ll be watching again any time soon.
 
RATINGS
3/5 Stars