movie review monday: 30 days of night

30 Days of Night

Hard Candy director David Slade took the helm for this adaptation of Steve Niles' terrifying comic-book series of the same name. In Barrow, AK, one night can last an eternity. One month every year, this town is plunged into darkness for 30 days due to its location on the far north of the Arctic Circle. While extended periods of darkness are something that the locals have become accustomed to, this year something sinister is about to emerge from the long and unforgiving night. As a maniacal horde of vampires assume control of the city streets and commence to freely feasting on the terrified citizens, the local sheriff (Josh Hartnett), his wife (Melissa George), and a small but resilient band of survivors will be forced to choose between saving themselves or helping the few remaining members of their community survive the blood-soaked siege. Original comic creator Niles collaborated with screenwriters Stuart Beattie and Brian Nelson to pen a film produced under Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures banner. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

I chose the last movie, The Kingdom (which I'll probably review soon too because it was FANTASTIC and everyone should see it) so it was K's turn to pick. It was actually between We Own the Night, American Gangster, and Dan in Real Life until we realized it was an hour wait for those and 30 Days of Night was starting in a minute. So off we went. I kind of think we should have just waited for any of the other three.

I'm not a big fan of scary movies because I tend to think they are ridiculous and then they still startle me and I can't get the images out of my head right away. I love psychological thrillers which I admit is odd because those probably stay with you a lot longer than the slasher flicks but whatever, it's how it is. Scary movies in the theater are even less of a favorite thing for me but as long as I can grip K's hand and arm excessively, it's alright.

The premise was actually pretty decent. The sun sets for 30 days a year in Barrow, Alaska and about two-thirds of the town leaves for that month because of the lack of sunlight. The airport closes after the last sunset preceding the thirty days. It's winter and in Alaska, so blizzards abound and communication isn't so hot anyway. So when a pack of vampires descend on the town and start eating everyone, there's not a lot they can really do about it. There's a group of people that manage to survive and sneak around and try to figure out a way to survive the entire month and be able to warn other town in Alaska before next year.

With that said, it was lame. And ridiculously bloody. And creepy. The end wasn't that great and I was just kind of disappointed. Yet still a little skittish about the whole ordeal. There were some plot points brought up and then ignored which I super hate. One of the characters had an inhaler, which never became a problem. They mentioned living in Barrow for a reason, and that they knew the town and the cold so of course they could wait it all out but then never went back to the whole cold thing. It was super bloody and gruesome, as one would probably expect. Basically, I am glad the tickets were free, but there are several other movies I still want to see.

Final verdict? It's not a COMPLETE waste of time, but just rent it rather than going to see it in the theater.