30 Days of Night (2007)

One of my all-time favorite vampire movies, “30 Days of Night” is a great example of how far removed vampires can be from being the stereotypical hopeless romantic archetype that had become so popular since the 1990’s. These vampires are ruthless predators that speak only when necessary. They have evolved, or perhaps devolved, into killing machines that treat people as nothing more than livestock. I love movies that take place in environments with snow, so an Alaskan village that is without daylight for thirty days is perfect for me. I also enjoyed the cast and I wish that Josh Harnett was in more films like this. Melissa George (Amityville Horror) is also a great casting choice as Eben’s ex-wife.

Eben Olsen is the sheriff of Barlow, Alaska, a town that experiences thirty days of night once a year. As the town is quickly getting ready to leave or preparing to stay for the month long event, a mysterious ship approaches the town and single row boat comes forth from the vessel. This stranger is up to no good as he kills the sled dogs and destroys the communication tower before going into a dinner where he is arrested after making threats. Eben takes him to the police station and locks him up but the stranger just mocks them and talks about their coming doom. The “doom” comes quickly after sundown when a mob of vampires, who were waiting within the ship, come to town and begin a bloody rampage and feeding frenzy. Eben and several others, including his brother and ex-wife Stella, survive the initial onslaught and take refuge in an abandoned house with a secret attic. After barely living through the first endless night, the group has to try and stay alive for the next month until the sun rises once more.

Favorite moment – the scene when Eben kills his first vampire, a newly turned local, at a swing set behind some houses. This scene is purely beautiful; the use of silence as the snow falls and the almost stark black and white scenery is stunning.