Combine "The Thing" and "Near Dark" and you get 30 Days of Night

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2007)

I saw the midnight show of this movie and although it wasn't packed I was surprised at the turnout. I did not expect to have more than 10 people show up but I would say that at least one hundred people came to see a movie about a bunch of vampires.
This movie was marketed as "redefining the vampire mythos." The graphic novel in which this movie was based certainly was groudbreaking and I must admit I agree with its proclamation. "30 Days of Night really did a good job of staying away from the cliché vampire moments that a majority of the recent movies with vampires have followed. No kung fu fighting...which was a breath of fresh air. Far too often you find vampire movies in which all of the bloodsuckers (even newly turned ones) instantly have a 3rd degree black belt. Very frustrating... this movie does not have any of that.
What this movie does have are scenes that probably will not scare or shock you but they do stick with you long after you leave the theatre. I won't mention those moments obviously but you will know what I am talking about. Unless you have not read the graphic novel of course. And even if you have the movie still has scenes that were not in the graphic novel.
The vampires were not your traditional romantic eyed strangers that seduce their victims...Oh no. They were grotesque in their appearance, animalistic in the way they fed and they even spoke in a eery language. The villains in movies such as this either make or break it, well the villains certainly made the movie what it professes to be..."a new take on the vampire mythos."
Even Josh Harnett pulled out a very good performance as the movie's hero. Not a big fan of his, but whomever casted him did a very good job. The other actors did not wow me but they didn't take anything away from the movie. The main vampire was not as scene stealing as he should have been but his "minions" made up for that.
The biggest flaw in the movie was that there were scenes in the graphic novel that should have been in the movie, key scenes but besides that, the movie was definitely one to remember. I gave this movie a high rating comparing it to other movies in its genre. I think it is right up there with "Lost Boys and Near Dark" as one of the best vampire tales ever. When you see it, go in there with an open mind and prepare yourself for a very entertaining, albeit gruesome, movie going experience.