by Stephanie Clarke

Created on: October 28, 2008

This film had all the ingredients of a cinematic experience I awaited with anticipation. The trailers promised something new from the horror scene not witnessed since the Blair Witch Project in its ingenuity. The fact that 30 Days of Night came out on the cinemas around the same time as I am Legend, as meant there was something on the same theme to compare it too. I am also fascinated by desolate snowy wastelands, sled dogs and rugged, unshaven men battling against a greater foe than the inclement weather. One of my all time favourite polar horror films is John Carpenter's The Thing (1982).

I should not compare 3o Days of Night with The Thing. The Thing has a fantastic script and mind boggling special effects for its time and superb actors, even Kurt Russell astounds with almost Shakespearean dedication to the art. 30 Days of Night is a comic book translated to the big screen with a dire script, uninspired acting except for the quirky talents of Ben Foster as The Stranger', and too much chaotic blood and gore shots. Nevertheless, 30 Days of Night delivers enough fright to have me pinned to the seat in terror at each fast paced scene.

The Vampire creatures that overrun the town, taking advantage of the prolonged darkness, are realistic and credible. There are no wooden crosses and garlic in this film. The head vampire speaks in a mysterious ancient language instead of a pseudo-Transylvanian accent and the other vampires screech in a high pitched, eerie and feral roar. One in particular bears an uncanny resemblance to Marilyn Manson to add to the freakish image of these monsters. They strike their victims at supernatural lightening speed which is disturbing and kept me on my nail biting edge throughout. There is a lot of promise but sadly the psychology of terror does not come through with such a poor script and minimal characterization.

The psychology of terror is what makes films like 'I am Legend', 'The Thing' and the 'Blair Witch Project' so great. A clever manipulation of timing and suspense is the essense of horror, not a blood fest of the most shocking way to rip someone apart. Luckily, 30 Days of Night is able to maintain credibility and does not fall into the cateGORY of tongue-in-cheek schlock horror.

The editing of the film is not too hot either and does not really deliver the sense of utter despair and helpless of being trapped in a remote town for 30 days ravaged by rampant blood suckers. However, the cinematography is effective in capturing the stark and uncompromising landscape from which there is no escape for the vampires' victims.

Overall, it is a film that I would recommend to watch on the big screen and even if it does lack the substance it makes up for it by being very well dressed. Some viewers might prefer that.

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