2008 Woodie Awards
'30 Days of Night' qualifies as creepy movie for Halloween
Alan Sharp
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Entertainment
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Creepiness abounds in the new horror thriller "30 Days of Night." Co-writers Steve Niles (who also wrote the graphic novel the film is based on) and Stuart Beattie and director David Slade start things off on a slow burn and build the tension to a rolling boil as the story picks up steam (pun completely intended).
David Slade ("Hard Candy") is most notably known for his work directing rock music videos and his "on the job training" in that arena helped him out here, as the frenetic style of this film added to the overall atmosphere of terror and desperation. The film changes gears often, but to good effect. There are moments of calm, when you get tricked into thinking you (and the characters onscreen) might get to catch your breath, abruptly interrupted by episodes of intense, brutally violent horror.
The film follows the story of a small town in Alaska isolated from the rest of the state, and all of civilization, for that matter, that basically goes into hibernation during the seasonal period that brings about a month without sunlight (hence the title). The town becomes even more isolated as all of their links to the rest of the world are systematically disabled. Sled dogs, the rescue helicopter, the electricity and all other means of escape and survival are picked off one by one by a horde of vampires.
It's up to the town's sheriff Eben Oleson ("Lucky Number Slevin's" Josh Hartnett) and his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George of the 2005 remake of "The Amityville Horror") to help a small band of survivors hide out and try to outlast the undead invaders for the month that's standing between them and the next sunrise. Their success hinges on determination and sacrifice.
There are some nice twists on the conventional portrayal of vampires here.
Instead of traveling in smooth, seductive grace ("Interview with the Vampire") or as a group of hard partying teens ("The Lost Boys"), these bloodsuckers run amok like a pack of wild boars.
David Slade ("Hard Candy") is most notably known for his work directing rock music videos and his "on the job training" in that arena helped him out here, as the frenetic style of this film added to the overall atmosphere of terror and desperation. The film changes gears often, but to good effect. There are moments of calm, when you get tricked into thinking you (and the characters onscreen) might get to catch your breath, abruptly interrupted by episodes of intense, brutally violent horror.
The film follows the story of a small town in Alaska isolated from the rest of the state, and all of civilization, for that matter, that basically goes into hibernation during the seasonal period that brings about a month without sunlight (hence the title). The town becomes even more isolated as all of their links to the rest of the world are systematically disabled. Sled dogs, the rescue helicopter, the electricity and all other means of escape and survival are picked off one by one by a horde of vampires.
It's up to the town's sheriff Eben Oleson ("Lucky Number Slevin's" Josh Hartnett) and his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George of the 2005 remake of "The Amityville Horror") to help a small band of survivors hide out and try to outlast the undead invaders for the month that's standing between them and the next sunrise. Their success hinges on determination and sacrifice.
There are some nice twists on the conventional portrayal of vampires here.
Instead of traveling in smooth, seductive grace ("Interview with the Vampire") or as a group of hard partying teens ("The Lost Boys"), these bloodsuckers run amok like a pack of wild boars.
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