Haunting setting, nuanced performances, and absolutely gory (possible spoilers)

Rating: 9/10 (21 October 2007)

I suppose horror fanatics (like myself) are jaded in our requirements -- decent plot line, intriguing villains, heroes to sympathize with, a good amount of scares and a bit of the red stuff thrown in for good measure, when and where the film needs it.
30 Days of Night, while not particularly heavy on the jump-and-go-Boo! moments (there were a few here and there), bordered on the traumatic. The icy, bleak setting of Barrow, the northernmost town of the U.S., allowed for the moviegoer to immediately feel the utter isolation experienced regularly by the town's residents. As prepared as the (remaining) denizens may have seemed for the month-long's worth of darkness, they simply weren't quite prepared enough for the vicious gang of vampires able to withstand the sub-zero temperatures.
David Slade's direction was phenomenal. His focus was less on needless exposition and more on character reaction, audience perspective, setting, timing and mood -- from the spectacularly devised aerial shot of the vampire slaughter-fest of the town to the facial expressions of the exhausted remaining survivors as they find themselves faced with the inevitable, bloodily sacrificial decisions.
The casting was surprisingly good as well. I'm not a Josh Harnett fan, but as the young, local lawman, Eben, he handled his role thoughtfully, as did his female co-star, Melissa George as Stella, Eben's estranged wife. The knockouts, however, were Ben Foster as the creepy Stranger (the Renfield of the story, I'm assuming) and Danny Huston as Marlowe, the Slavic- tongued, nastily philosophical leader of the vampires. Both Foster and Huston are fantastic character actors, the likes of whom are seen sporadically in memorable roles. I don't think either of them will be short of work in Hollywood. I hope not, at any rate.
All in all, 30 Days of Night is a worthy watch. Be prepared to be chilled to the core.