The Rocket

Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: MCT Campus In his lastest film, "30 Days of Night," Josh Hartnett plays Eben, a sheriff faced with vampires who took over his isolated hometown of Barrow, Alaska, during the 30 winter days when the town is plunged into a state of complete darkness. [Click to enlarge]

A vampire's dream is realized in a small Alaskan town in the Josh Hartnett ("40 days and 40 Nights") horror flick, "30 Days of Night."

"30 Days" tells the story of an isolated Alaskan town preparing for their annual 30 days without sun. About half of the population leaves for sunnier locales, while others grab their tap-lights, grin and bear it.

Then, just when you thought 30 days of darkness couldn't suck any more, the town is taken over by a ruthless gang of violent vampires.

Without sunlight to ward them off, the vampires have free reign over the town's chilly population. What ensues is a gloriously bloody, violent affair.

The humans never really have a chance. Imagine unleashing a hungry pack of rabid dogs into a hospital nursery and you'll get the picture.

Most of the humans are taken out in the first wave, which is shown with some fancy "Grand Theft Auto"-like camera work.

Shown from an aerial point-of-view, much like the Goodyear blimp, the vampires produce puddle after puddle of crimson life fluid all over the crisp Alaskan snow.

These are not your father's vampires, though.

The days of cool and collected, Bela Lugosi-like bloodsuckers are gone.

These vampires are fast and fierce, jumping over buildings and flipping SUVs. They show absolutely no mercy as they tear through victim after victim.

The ruthless nature of these living dead is as terrifying as it is fun to watch.

"30 Days" is full of effective scares, and can make audiences jump without relying on overly suspenseful music. You will pop out of your seat at least a couple times.

Leading the cast is Hartnett, who plays Eben, one of two town lawmen. Harnett's performance is solid but even if it hadn't been, he had a cast more than capable of backing him up.

Playing the vampire's human lackey is the always-unique Ben Foster ("X-Men: The Last Stand"). The 26-year-old Foster is always entertaining in the creepy roles he plays.

Also firing up the screen is the brutish, bit-part superstar Mark Boone Junior ("Batman Begins"). His characters are usually unshaven and dirty, but always enjoyable. In "30 Days," he plays a snow plowman that proves to be a fair opponent for the vampires.

Northern Alaska is probably not tops on anyone's tourist locations list, but it proves to be a great setting for a horror tale. The cold isolation makes the setting quite frightening before the vampires even show up.

But there is only so much flashlight tag and candlelit Monopoly a person can play before madness sets in.

As great as the actors, setting and story are, the real star of the film is still the gore. With all of the films like "Hostel" and "Saw" showcasing over-the-top, unrealistic gore, "30 Days" supplies a taste of frightening reality to its bloodshed.

Most films sporting ax-swinging decapitation require only one swift swing of the blade to get the job done. In "30 Days," there is quite a bit of ax play, and each axing takes several excruciating, bloody blows.

"30 Days of Night" has everything any horror fan would want in a film. In addition to the gallons and gallons of blood, there are scenes that will make you vacate your cushy theater chair.

I cannot speak of the graphic novel that the film is based on because I haven't read it, but if none of that matters to you and you're just looking for a really good horror film, "30 Days of Night" will meet your needs.

So load up your Maglite and prepare for some seriously fun darkness.

Ivan Moore is a senior communication major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.

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