Release Date: October, 19, 2007 Studio: Sony Pictures •
Columbia Pictures MPAA Rating: R Genre: Horror •
Thriller Director: David Slade Writers: Ben Templesmith, Steve Niles, Stuart Beattie, Brian Nelson Cast: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Houston, Ben Foster Synopsis: Every year, the town of Barrow Alaska, the northernmost town in the US, is plunged in to a period of eternal darkness that lasts for 30 days. This year, arrival of the town's dark time also brings the arrival of some unwanted guests- bloodthirsty vampires! It now up to Sheriff Eben Oelson (Hartnett) and his estranged wife Stella (George) to protect a rag-tag group of survivors that hope to last this 30 days of night! The Review: You're Critic for the Evening: Deez
Deez is back with a review of the latest Vamp horror Flick, "30 Days of Night"! How does it stack up against classics such as "Dracula: Dead and Loving it"?? Read on!
Wow... first, I just have to say- this movie Rocked, and Rocked HARD! My happy ass was slammed in the back of my seat early on and stayed there happily till the credits started to roll! "30 Days of Night" is the perfect roller coaster to start your Halloween movie going experience!
Why is this film so good? Glad you asked! Let's break it down...
1) The Townspeople: Finally, a horror movie where the entire cast isn't just a bunch of college students on their way to a rave! Here we have the residents of a very small Alaskan town. Real adults characters that- even though most might not be totally fleshed out (well, most of them get "fleshed" out by the end...he he!)- feel like people that you know and can relate to. The dynamics of their interactions and relationships are key here in taking the viewer along for this great ride. I've got to also give some mad props to Hartnett and George for really giving finely tuned performances in their roles as a separated couple in charge of keeping the towns people safe. (Ok... I might not be talking Academy Award here, but for a horror flick... they are finely nuanced performances!).
2) The Vampires: Let's just get one thing out of the way these are not the vampires you're used to! Gone is the elegance, the seduction, the "coolness" of the proceedings, you'll find none of that here! Other than the fact that they are impeccably cotured, these vampires are monsters, pure killing machines! Gone is the cute little "double-fang" thing, here comes a grill that would make jaws look like a redneck with no dental insurance after Halloween! Danny Houston (The Constant Gardner) just kicks ass here as Marlow, the head Vamp. Speaking in an archaic language (actually, one made up just for the film), Houston crates a baddie that is all at once sexy, but horrifying in the same breath. Coolest vampire since George Hamilton! (I'm totally kidding! Hamilton sucked... and not in a good way!) Seeing these vamps for the first time will be much like when we first saw the blinding fast zombies in Zach Snyder's "Dawn of the Dead".. just one big "Holy SHIT!!!"
3) The look- A vampire movie, set in Alaska, based on a kick-ass graphic novel... the set up naturally lends itself to brilliant cinematography, and this movie takes full advantage and then some!!! The look of this film is stunning for horror! There were many times while watching this movie I actually stopped and thought to my self..."That is a beautiful shot!" This movie has a stylized reality in every aspect of production that is just pure eye candy from frame one!
4) The GORE- for an R rated Studio Vamp flick, the movie does have a fair share of chunkage! There are truly some nasty good scenes. (Especially with the rampant beheadings going on!) Granted, this movie does not have a whole lot of bloody scenes in it, but when it does, it does not hold back in the slightest... (Just wait for the demise of Eben's partner near the end! (Possibly the best gore of the year!!)
5) Melissa George- Yes, she gets her own topic! Voted, by me, as the #1 of the top 25 hotties in film last year- Melissa George is just plain gorgeous and worth seeing a movie fore on her own! On the downside, there is no bikini action in this movie... (Come on David Slade... I know its set in an Alaskan winter and all, but on one bikini shot??? Shower scene??? Uwe Boll would have one in there... That's all I'm saying. Help a brother out!) Although there is not bikini, we do get her in the tightest snow pants ever assembled for the duration of the film, a decent compromise, I guess. (AUTHORS NOTE: Having the opportunity to meet Ms. George, I feel I must also point out that she is more than just a beautiful face a top a hot as hell body, she's a very intelligent, insightful, and funny woman! There ladies, you can put the knives down!)
All-in-all, this is one of the best horror films of the year! Sure it has its minor plot-holes (like, how come after not one, but 2 blizzards... the roads are still clear?), but these are easily over looked if you get along for the ride. At the end, you won't be disappointed! Rating:
