Fresh take on vampires, but everything in between is stale

Rating: 7/10 (18 October 2007)

I work for a movie theatre and had to screen the print prior to public viewing for technical concerns. I enjoy vampire lore and films, though I've learned to go into movies expecting nothing. 30 Days of Night didn't deliver entirely what I was expecting, but I know this: too many people that work for studios come here and hype these movies. Yes, opinions vary greatly, and I am usually on here defending everyone's right to like what they choose, but the first comment is just not accurate. First, the vampires are the stars of the show. Their appearance, mannerisms, and language are well done. I enjoyed the different take on them, though watching it I knew they were vampires; nothing radical was done to usher the next century of the thirsty undead in. Kudos.
But that is about all that is new here. Other than the cinematography (which I enjoyed; lots of gray reinforced the isolated and hopeless feeling the survivors are meant to endure), the acting (Josh Hartnett is faithfully forgettable as usual), casting, and plot are invisible. Several subplots are hinted at for each character, but one quick line is all we get, and then one quick line later in the film resolves it. Picking out who is going to die and when is easy. Small moments that most movies hint at to foreshadow later events are like floodlights in a closet here. Whenever you see something apparently random, you'll know where it's going right away. Nothing new is added beyond what we expect; 30 days of night in a town that vampires have come to ravage. Which, if you are paying $9.50 to see, then you should be fine. The bottom line is I did like the film. Seeing free movies makes me ask myself, "Would I have been satisfied paying $9.50 to see that?" In this case, yes, I would. But the overzealous hype-machine in the first review is just not what you are going to get with this film.
If you like vampires, and gore (it does get bloody), then you will like this film. If you just want something that won't make you think but will give you a visual thrill, you'll be fine. If you're looking for something deeper in the plot, or tons of epic action sequences, then carefully reconsider before laying down your greenbacks at the Box Office.
Again, to each their own. We all like different things (I can't count how many blogs I've defended The Matrix in, lol). Yet the level of skill in the first review is surely that of a professional critic, and goes a bit too far in stating what this movie really is.