Oh yes, there will be SPOILERS!!!
30 Days of Night opened at midnight last night here in NYC. Of course, I had to go see it. Unfortunately, the only theater in Manhattan was in Times Square so I had to deal with the idiot crowds. Laughing at inappropriate moments, making fun of stuff that either scared them or they didn't understand, etc.
Still, I would not allow it to deter my enjoyment. And enjoy I did! I was a huge fan of the original comic series which was then put into a trade paperback. NOT a graphic novel. Though, I get that it's a term that Hollywood uses to make comic books sound cool. A real graphic novel does not start as a series first. Anyway, I'll admit I was happy to see the phrase used in the advertising.
I was going to re-read the trade paperback before seeing the film. I did it with 300, but that made sense since it was almost replicating the page. With this flick, I knew that the story had changed a bit. So, I didn't want to go in with a different frame of mind of what I think the story should be.
I immediately noticed a change in the relationship of the 2 main characters, Eben (Josh Hartnett) and Stella (the lovely Melissa George). In the comic, they're happily married. Here, they are separated, but clearly still love each other. Beyond that, everything else seemed to move along as it did in the comic. Though, I did flip through it when I got home and noticed changes.
The comic was so haunting. Both in words by Steve Niles and the terrifying art of Ben Templesmith. How could they transfer this to film? Well, let me tell you. Quite well! I'm glad they kept Niles on as one of the writers as it was his baby.
The story gets you right into it. The town of Barrow, Alaska. The northernmost city in the U.S. of A. Due to it's location, it experiences...you guessed it...30 days full of night. No daylight at all. The town is buzzing on the last day of daylight. Many are leaving and rushing to get out as they don't like it. The ones that stay are gearing up for it. As the night falls, Sheriff Eben gets a call about murdered dogs. A strange event for a small town where most seem to know one another. Then, he runs into a stranger in town at the local diner. Stella, stuck in town after missing her plane, decides to tag along with Eben and take the troublemaker in. In the local precinct, Eben's little brother and grandmother are present as the stranger gets locked up. Immediately, the stranger starts spouting off, "They are coming. Nowhere is safe to hide."
And, sure enough. It starts happening. First, people on the outskirts of town. Then, Eben and Stella go out to investigate and their truck is attacked. The attacks are shot frenetically with the creatures moving in such a blurry speed as to seem supernatural and animalistic. Totally works.
The creatures are finally shown. And it's not your daddy's or Anne Rice's idea of a vampire. More like Nosferatu with a modern twist. In the comic, they spoke English fine. Here, it seems to be some sort of Slavic tongue or perhaps even a made up language. Makes it all the more frightening. Also, as in the comic, after an attack, the mouths and bodies stay covered in blood. Completely drying on their skin and clothes. The teeth are all jagged and sharp. Both male and female vampires. And a creepy kid one. *shudder*
Various other characters eventually start to gather as the vampires openly attack the town. The sequence of attacks is quite horrific and made to seem like a pack of wild animals have overwhelmingly attacked the town. Some fight back to no avail. Survivors soon hole up together and make a play for survival. Time passes and slowly through different circumstances, people are picked off. Some doing stupid things. Others sacrificing themselves to help others. Somehow, a small group of survivors makes it to the 29th night. One more day.
Eben and Stella get separated and Stella is left outside hiding with a surviving child. As the vampires decide to burn everyone out and destroy the town. Eben sees no other option to save both Stella and the town. He makes a logical yet insane decision on how to fight them. I'll save that part for you. If you've read the comic, you know what it is though. Same as the movie. I was glad to see the ending of the flick seemingly mirror the ending of the comic as it was hauntingly beautiful and sad.
Hartnett and George do a fine job as the troubled couple who find their love back in this horrible tragedy. Other characters are minor and serve more as fodder than exposition. One big bear of a character, Beau (Mark Boone Jr.), was great and had a couple of cool scenes to chew up with the vampires. But, the show was stolen by the vampires. Especially their leader, Marlow (Danny Huston). Great dark and snowy setting. Finely directed by David Slade. And mucho kudos to the makeup/effects team for creating the vampires following Templesmith's original vision. They were scary as a motherfucker!
While the movie may only startle you and not outright scare you, it is pretty creepy. I will bet that you'll be seeing those images of the vampire attacks in your heads for days!
Find sunlight. Don't stay in one place. And pray.
Comic News Insider: Episode 112 is available for free download. Click on the link or get it through iTunes!
All the way over from Wales, The Meanies join us in studio to partake in this special Halloween filled episode! Reviews: Marvel Zombies 2 #1, XXXombies #1, Proof #1, Neozoic #1. News includes Battlestar Galactica, Flash and Green Lantern movies, Yoda stamp, Jerry Robinson, Wonder Woman, Superpastor and more! 
Blair Butler joins us again to discuss zombies, movies, comics and why there are a bunch of little kids running around her cubicle. 
And, Jenny Romanchuk, creator/artist/writer for my favorite web comic, The Zombie Hunters, joins us all the way from Canada to talk about her zombielicious creation and her ironic fear of blood.
