It is obvious that vampire films are very popular right now: everything from the Twilight series to the Swedish hit Let the Right One In. It’s safe to say that the vampire is back and shows no signs of going away. One of the best vampire films of recent years has been 30 Days of Night based on the comic book by Steve Niles. The film takes place in a small Alaskan town where the sun disappears for thirty days. It is then invaded by a hoard of vampires who come to feed on the local residences. The film did well enough in the box office and on DVD to spawn this decent sequel, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days.
The film starts off where the first film ended, with Stella holding her now vampire husband in her arms as the sun rises and kills him. She is the only survivor of the town and now is traveling the United States telling people her story. (The government covered it up as a gas explosion). Most people write her off as crazy, until she begins setting up real vampires that come to her events and killing them will solar lights in front of her audiences. When the FBI threatens her and all seems hopeless, Stella is approached by a team of vampire hunters that are all trying to avenge their loved ones. She soon finds out that a queen vampire, Lilith is the one that is in charge of all the vampires’ activities around the world. With the help of a vampire that has been able to control his hunger, they must hunt down Lilith before she makes her way back to Alaska for another round of feeding.
Although not superior to its predecessor, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days is still a good film. The script, written by Steve Niles, is good, and the story has enough paced action and character development to keep you glued to the screen. The film has very good production values and plenty of great visual and special effects with enough blood and gore to keep horror fans happy. Unlike more direct-to-video sequels, the acting in the film is not half bad either. Altogether the film is well-rounded.
The Blu-ray DVD combo pack has a few special features, including the filmmakers’ commentary and the featurette “The Gritty Realism of Dark Days.” There is also a featurette exclusive to the Blu-ray disc called Graphic Inspiration: Comic to Film Exploration, which highlights how the filmmakers developed the comic into a film. The disc also has the BD Live feature, so you can go online for more exclusive content.
I have never really been a fan of vampire film outside the classics and a few eighties vampire films. I can count on both hands how many I really have enjoyed over the past ten years, with 30 Days of Night being one of them. I honestly can say that this sequel only benefits from that film’s being so good. 30 Days of Night: Dark Days is a good vampire film. It’s nothing classic but it well worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of the comics and the of first film. It’s a bloody good time.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
