30 Days of Night: How To Give A Twilight Fan A Headache …. (A Review)

13th December, 2011: 30 Days of Night.

I hate repeating myself, I really do.

Says the man who’s managed to do at least five Teaser question a day for the last three years.

There’s BOUND to be a repeat, there, somewhere.

If there is, I’m just hoping I can gently brush them under the carpet and hope no-one notices them!

At ANY rate … ?

The reason I mention repeats … is that I’ve had the night to myself.

So decided to watch a film I’d already seen: but felt was worth seeing again.

The 2007, David Slade directed, 30 Days of Night, starring Josh Hartnett and Melissa George as its divorced husband and wife heroes, Eben and Stella Olsen.

Who are Sheriff and local Fire Marshall for the small Alaskan town of Barrow, the most northerly town in the US.

One that, for the purposes of the film, sees a month of night in the depths of winter*.

A month of wintery, pitch black nights, when vampires — ones that are VERY unlike the ones you’re used to — decide Barrow is a perfect place to be.

‹‹•››

Now …

I’m thinking I won’t go further than that.

I will, however, give you the link for my original write up on 30 Days of Night.

And SERIOUSLY suggest you catch it … !

30 Days of Night

★★★☆

*        From the little I know, the films makers have taken a few liberties, there: but I’ll let you look that up on Wikipedia, yourself …

30 Days of Night: A month of Blood …

4th June, 2009

I’m thinking Adrian’s missed a treat, here.

He’s managed to break his arm, running for the bus!

Actually, I’m more sympathetic than I sound; he didn’t look too chipper, Tuesday night, and has been on some serious painkillers, for the past few days.

I’m thinking a get well soon’s in order, I know that.

But it did mean I had a quiet night in with a copy of the David Slade directed 30 Days of Night.

Which is both gruesome and horrific; two things that aren’t necessarily the same.

The gruesome part comes in, of course, because this is, after all, a vampire film.

During winter, the small north Alaskan town of Barrow* sees thirty days of night: which is when a small group of vampires manage to cut communications links to the outside world, and attack.

These aren’t the romantic, elegant blood-suckers of “Underworld” or “Dracula” or the party animals of the original “Blade”.

Slade has them as feral, wild animals, howling and screeching at the moon, and attacking their victims in a vicious feeding frenzy.

Intelligent, yes.

But very animalistic.

To the point where the word ‘pack’ is probably appropriate.

There’s also moments of horror.

For me, those included a scene where Eben — the Josh Hartnett character — realises his deputy, Billy, has killed his own family to prevent them being killed or turned by the attacking horde, and where Jake — Eben’s younger brother — suffers the emotional aftermath of having to kill a little girl who’s been turned.

There’s also the realisation, by Stella, Eben’s ex-wife, realises her former husband’s grandmother has been killed.

Which is wonderfully done by Melissa George; very subtle, and possibly only achievable on the big screen.

That mix, for me, makes this a very good film to watch; certainly that combination of elements made this a very good investment, back when I bought it.

I’m just sorry I didn’t suggest it, on Tuesday.

And wondering what language was used as a basis for the one used by the vampires …

Actor	Character
Josh Hartnett	Sheriff Eben Oleson
Melissa George	Stella Oleson
Danny Huston	Marlow
Ben Foster	The Stranger
Mark Boone Junior	Beau Brower
Mark Rendall	Jake Oleson
Amber Sainsbury	Denise
Manu Bennett	Deputy Billy Kitka
Megan Franich	Iris
Joel Tobeck	Doug Hertz
Elizabeth Hawthorne	Lucy Ikos
Nathaniel Lees	Carter Davies
Craig Hall	Wilson Bulosan
Chic Littlewood	Issac Bulosan
Peter Feeney	John Riis