Visually impressive horror film is somewhat flawed in the script but it's certainly an well made film.

Rating: 8/10 (27 October 2007)

In the small isolated town in Alaska each month in a year. The town goes to total darkness for 30 days. Which most villagers decides to stay somewhere else for the month. When a mysterious stranger (Ben Foster) is been killing dogs and causing trouble in a small diner. The local sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) is trying to find out, where's this stranger came from. The sheriff's soon to be ex-wife Stella (Melissa George) finds herself stuck in this village as well. Now very strange things are starting to happen, when the villagers are getting attacked from the unknown. This stranger brings this eerie group of people. Which they are strong, violent and they are hungry for blood. Which they are vampires are attacking and feeding on these villagers for the whole month. They will not stop attacking until the whole villagers are dead. Now Eben, Stella and a small group of survivors try to hold on from hiding and fighting these unstoppable vampires until the sunlight comes back.
Directed by David Slade (Hard Candy) made an extremely well-acted, well directed Horror movie with a few genuine moments of suspense and terror. Slade's visual style is the highlight of this film, which it's based on a graphic comic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith. Slade certainly echoes some of the style of the earlier films of John Carpenter. Even Mark Boone Junior, who had a small role as Vampire Slayer in the underrated Carpenter film "Vampires". The Vampires certainly has a presence in this, especially Danny Huston as "Marlow". Perphas the problems with "30 Days of Night" is probably not what some audiences or critics were expecting to be. I felt the script, could have been much better in places. But there's enough character development from the human characters and the vampires are kept mysterious enough in the film.
Sadly, this horror movie was an box office disappointment. The reviews were certainly mixed, although "30 Days of Well" is possibly one of the most well received horror movie of this year by certain critics. The conclusion is certainly familiar to "Blade 2". There's also a few (unintentionally ?) laughs as well but there's strong moments of violence, gory and a few jolts as well. The production designs by Paul D. Austerberry (Resident Evil:Apocalyspe, Assault on Precient 13 "2005", Highwaymen) and the widescreen cinematography by Jo Williems are first-rate. I think, it's one of those films will be a cult favorite once it's release on DVD. It's one of the strongest "Vampire" movies in a while but certainly not one of the best in the genre. It's one of those movies that certainly looks good in the Big Screen. It's worth viewing. Screenplay by Niles, Staurt Beattie (Collateral, Derailed) and Brian Nelson. Super 35. (*** ½/*****).