Why '30 Days of Night' Stands Out as a Refreshing Take on Vampire Cinema

The Big Picture

30 Days of Night is an action-horror movie that takes tired conventions of the genre and turns them on their heads.

The film draws inspiration from various genres, including action cinema and neo-western, resulting in a distinctive and compelling blend of survival horror and monster elements.

The vampires depicted in the film are unsettling and terrifying, possessing supernatural powers and a deep-seated contempt for humanity. This is far from your usual story of sparkly vampires.

What Is ‘30 Days of Night’ About?

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, David Slade's 2007 adaptation of 30 Days of Night takes the vampire genre to a new level. With elements of action and horror, the film incorporates a variety of genres while staying true to its influences. Slade successfully reimagines tired conventions, creating a unique and intense experience. While it may diverge from traditional vampire narratives, the film's high-concept plot and blend of neo-western, siege drama, and survival horror make it a thrilling watch. Despite its modest budget of $30 million, the film performed well at the box office and received mixed-to-positive reviews. In addition to the live-action film, the 30 Days of Night series expanded to include a sequel, Dark Days, as well as two miniseries, Blood Trails and Dust to Dust. Fans eagerly anticipating Slade's latest horror movie, Dark Harvest, should definitely revisit his vampire epic, 30 Days of Night.

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

In the desolate town of Barrow, Alaska, known as the last day of the sun, a mysterious man named The Stranger (played by Ben Foster) appears. He disrupts all communication by destroying satellite phones and mobile devices, slaughters the town's dogs, and shuts down the generators, effectively trapping everyone. Meanwhile, Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett) and Stella (Melissa George) are going through a friendly breakup, with Stella planning to leave during the month of darkness. However, their plans are thrown into disarray when The Stranger is nearly killed in a crash and apprehended in a filthy and emaciated state. The intriguing story behind this vampire tale makes it hard to believe that Niles, the author of the original graphic novel, had to endure countless rejections and work for free. As Eben investigates the situation, he witnesses the aftermath of a vampire attack, leaving him deeply unsettled. When Eben tries to interrogate The Stranger, it becomes a battle of wits, accompanied by a cryptic warning: when darkness falls, the people of Barrow will face unimaginable danger.

Blade intensifies the suspense with an anxiety-inducing confrontation between the unprepared townspeople and a merciless clan of vampires who have sensed the presence of blood and are determined to violently seize control. Slade keeps the audience in suspense, gradually building tension and allowing us to emotionally connect with the characters. The vampire leader Marlow (Danny Huston) and his followers invade the town, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake. Eban, along with Stella and a group of survivors, takes refuge in a neighbor's attic, taking turns sleeping and rationing food. Each decision and survival strategy becomes akin to playing a dangerous game of chance, reminiscent of Russian Roulette. The one advantage they possess is their familiarity with the town, leading to a tense standoff.

‘30 Days of Night’ Borrows From Other Genres

Image via Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group

What sets 30 Days of Night apart as a compelling survival horror/monster mash-up is not just its vampire element, but how it incorporates elements from other genres. While it's already been acknowledged how Niles openly drew inspiration from iconic horror classics for the graphic novel, the movie also showcases influences from various other genres. Although not explicitly mentioned, Slade's stripped-down approach to directing draws from the straightforward action films of the 70s and 80s. Similar to John McClane in Die Hard, the protagonist Eban finds himself facing insurmountable odds and has to rely on strategic decision-making to overcome a formidable and seemingly unbeatable foe. Another significant influence in this genre is James Cameron's Aliens – much like Aliens, this cult classic balances between grim, visceral horror and explosive, action-packed spectacles, both of which relentlessly and punishingly captivate the audience.

Slade's prior film, the controversial Hard Candy, subverted the rape-revenge subgenre, providing him with the necessary groundwork to approach Niles' vampire opus. Another frame of reference is the neo-western genre and how Niles' story is established and brought to life on screen. Does the following description invoke a horror film or a stranger arriving in town and warning of imminent death, with a sheriff serving as the sole line of defense? This plot easily fits within the established framework. Even the climactic battle against formidable odds and the tragic conclusion don't inherently feel like they belong in a horror movie. The horror aspects of 30 Days... are blended with the base-under-siege concept pioneered in George Romero's Dead Trilogy but more commonly associated with action films like Passenger 57, Speed, and the aforementioned Die Hard. Other instances of this blending of genres can be seen in movies such as Predator, The Descent, Demon Knight, and From Dusk Till Dawn. What sets 30 Days apart is its unique amalgamation of these elements.

'30 Days of Night' Introduce A Terrifying Clan of Vampires

Steve Niles and David Slade joined forces to introduce a terrifying clan of vampires. Marlow and his group of bloodsuckers didn't require an invitation to invade your home. Garlic and crucifixes hold no power in this cinematic world, and the survivors have no escape from these horrifying creatures for a lengthy thirty days. The human characters quickly realize their own vulnerability and mortality in this dire situation. Marlow explicitly orders his vampires not to turn their victims, intensifying the brutality of their deaths. Speaking in an unfamiliar language, they bear no resemblance to humanity and, in fact, despise it. Their supernatural abilities of speed, agility, and strength make them formidable opponents, only susceptible to close-range attacks. They operate with precision and coordination, leaving no room for error. Unfortunately, Eban discovers their weakness midway through, when irreversible damage has already been inflicted. For those seeking vampires with a touch of glamour, this is not the place to look.