I never saw 30 Days of Night at the theater, so I was anxious to view it when it came out on DVD. I paid $19.95 at Wal-mart and have to say it spotlighted yet another mediocre performance by lead actor Josh Hartnett as Sheriff Eben Oleson
THE MOVIE STORY
The concept behind the movie is a winner! Vampires invade the Northernmost town in the U.S. – which is Barrow, Alaska – when the sun sets for 30 days. In reality, the days never stay pitch black as in the movie. The sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, but it does get a little light for several hours a day. Yet the idea of vampires who head to a land where it is dark all day is so simple and poignant a concept that I have to ask myself why I didn’t think of it and publish it?
The movie starts strong and moves along well for the first third. Then the vampires show up and ruin the whole thing.
If this small band of bloodsuckers, led by Marlow, played by Danny Huston, (If “Marlow” sounds familiar, it’s because Barlow was the vampire from Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot“, just a coincidence, I’m sure) is there to have a month long feast, why do they proceed to kill every last one of the town folk they can find on the first night? All the suspense is played out on the first night.
So we are left with a small band of survivors led by Josh Hartnett. They leave their safe harbor for what seems like a less safe police station – why is never explained. After arriving there they move yet again. I realize the director needs a body and blood count, but not for the plot. This is what happens when you make a movie from a comic book, sorry I mean graphic novel, just not enough meat for the story to live on.
The end is ripped off from the second Blade movie as well.
In contrast, the movie offers great special effects and visuals.
THE DVD
The DVD copy is spot-on great! For a movie filmed in the dark the detail is fantastic and the sound even from the speakers on my TV was in effect full surround, with sounds coming from the side and rear. I can only wonder how much better in 5.1 full surround set up it must sound like. the extras offered are plentiful and better than the movie itself with 8 behind the scene featurettes that are quite interesting.
I can recommend buying this DVD for the special features alone as well as a “show off” DVD for the picture and sound quality. As far a repeated viewing you might watch it again with a friend who hasn’t seen it before on a dark night with the lights off and all your doors and windows open.
