Movie Review: 30 Days of Night

I award the movie two and a half stars because it is well-made,
well-photographed and plausibly acted, and is better than it needs to be...Otherwise, this would be a radio play. I have pretty much reached my quota for vampire movies, but I shouldn't hold that against this one. If you haven't seen too many, you might like it. If you are a horror fan, you will love it...--Roger Ebert

Dear Roger,

I must take umbrage to your potentially snarky comment regarding horror fans. Not all of us automatically gush in delight — like Undeadmin over at Dreadcentral — at the sight of crimson fountains of blood spewing from severed jugular veins, torn open by shark-toothed vampires ripping into screaming victims. To the contrary, many of us are quite demanding in our never-ending search for skillfully crafted storylines that merge terror and drama competently, above and beyond the usual frights.

Right off the bat I can tell you weren't paying close attention to the movie: it's Barrow, Alaska, not Barlow. The only Barlow I know is in Ohio, and they certainly don't have to worry about 30 days of night - or ravenous vampires for that matter. On the other hand--

"You're getting a little off topic," said Zombos, peering over my shoulder.

"You're right." I stopped typing and collected my thoughts. "Maybe I should start over."

Dear Mr. Ebert,

I take exception to your cavalier comment regarding horror fans liking 30 Days of Night just because it's a horror film; especially after you begrudgingly gave it two and a half stars. Not all of us children-of-the-night critics pile on the hyperbole when a highly anticipated vampire film hits the big screen, even if it does contain an interesting premise. I can't believe no one thought of it before Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith grabbed it for their graphic novel. Speaking of the graphic novel, originally conceived as a three-issue series containing very evocative illustrations that grab each panel and--

"Ahem." Zombos cleared his throat.

But I digress. I agree that the story becomes the usual struggle for survival against murderous fiends, but what did you expect? It's a horror movie, where victims usually struggle against nightmarish fiends, and try their best not to be eaten, bitten, hack-sawed, disemboweled, tortured, and, generally speaking, grievously harmed in any way.

I'll grant you the Sheriff doesn't do too good a job of it — saving townspeople, that is — but at least he gives it his best shot. It's nice, too, that his estranged wife can finally find something they both can share in, like staying alive.

Article Author: ILoz Zoc

Founder of the League of Tana Tea Drinkers (LOTT D), expiring writer of Zombos Closet of Horror Blog, and valet to Zombos, the noted B-movie horror actor (to his few remaining and decaying fans).

Visit ILoz Zoc's author page — ILoz Zoc's Blog