After watching the special features for
Sony's DVD release of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT I have gained a new
appreciation for the film. As a matter of fact I am going to
recommend actually watching the special features first and then watch
the feature presentation. Really no major spoilers are handed out
and it really does add a lot to the film or at least it did for me.
Any horror fan worth their weight
already knows the basic storyline anyway. The graphic novel is a
classic and I would find it difficult to imagine any genre fan going
into this one without knowing the basic premise.
While the feel of this one reminded me
a lot of THE THING (Carpenter's, of course) it is familiar only in
texture and premise. We have a group of folks stranded in an
unbelievably harsh weather environment and finding themselves
confronting an evil that they can neither fight nor comprehend.
Just a quick refresher in case you need
it. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT tells the tale of a group of folks living in
Barrow Alaska where once a year the sun sets and doesn't come up for
a full month. A lot of the town packs up and leaves for this month
of darkness and this is were our story begins. It is the last full
day with sun and folks are heading to the airport to beat an on
coming storm. Some folks remain in town including the sheriff,
played well by Josh Hartnett, and as folks are leaving a series of
unusual events begin to take place. Dogs get mutilated, etc. and
also a stranger wanders into town. He's at the local bar and trying
to get himself some dinner consisting of some raw burger. When the
counter lady questions him he gets irate and the sheriff steps in.
Seems that this stranger is the harbinger of some pretty creepy news.
We don't find out how creepy for a bit
yet but when the baddies turn up they are about as nasty as they
come. This isn't any romantic vampire film. These vamps are filthy,
disgusting, violent pieces of work. They don't just drink your blood
they rip your head off and squeeze it like an orange.
The practical effects are suburb. Lots
of good old fashioned latex and blood pumps. Some CGI as well but it
is done well and inserted in such a fashion as to not be a
distraction.
Director David Slade weaves an
interesting blend of blood, action and good old fashioned creepy
storytelling and creates what just might be one of the best genre
films to come around in a while. This one didn't perform all that
well in it theatrical run, it did ok but it didn't do OMEGA MAN kind
of change. Funny thing is that this film is twice the film it was.
I guess it just didn't connect with the right crowd then but I'm
thinking that DVD is going to be very kind to this one. I know that
I have already twice. A good sign that this one is a keeper.
Oh yeah. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT is one kick
ass vampire flick that you must add to your collection.
Go get it now.
