Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

30 Days of Night Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 5, 2008

Blood-thirsty vampires invade America’s northernmost town of Barrow, Alaska in David Slade’s "30 Days of Night" (2007). Loads of red paint and top-notch camerawork transform pic into a true horror gem. Its moody tone, however, is what separates it from the sea of ambitious but disappointing copycats aiming at winning the hearts of horror fans. Released in the United Kingdom by Icon Film Distribution.

A good-looking sheriff (Josh Hartnett) and an even better-looking, soon-to-be-ex, partner (Melissa George) are up against a gang of vampires terrorizing a small village set to plunge in a complete darkness. It takes them awhile to put two and two together and figure out what is really going on but as chopped off heads start piling up it becomes painfully obvious that the vampires are on a mission.

Safe?

Heavy parallels with John Carpenter’s classic horror gem The Thing (1982) will certainly follow 30 Days of Night. Its gloomy aura, irregular pacing, and strong visuals are indeed key ingredients many might see as inspired directly by the The Thing. Yet, the film has an image of its own. It definitely relies on a number of genre clichés but it adds its own flavor to them, something I believe hardcore horror fans will undoubtedly appreciate.

There are two key factors that help 30 Days of Night separate itself from the sea of horror films flooding the market as of late. First, it is the film’s dependence on an enormous amount of close-ups studying the faces of the main protagonists. It is unnatural to see so many still shots reading the emotions of the hunters (vampires) and their prey (the villagers). Yet, in the larger scheme of things this is really a move that further enhances the sense of fear 30 Days of Night maintains so effectively.

Second, the love-story is a tremendous surprise to say the least. It truly keeps the narrative grounded and de facto awards 30 Days of Night a very realistic look (well, certainly as far as the limitations of the genre are concerned). The nearly cartoonish look other vampire films (Underworld) boast is effectively avoided in favor of a more natural type of nightmare where alongside the mandatory carnage one actually gets to see real people with real feelings.

This being said, 30 Days of Night certainly has its fare share of clichés many will quickly recognize, perhaps even dismiss. The vampires are obviously superior to their victims but they do make some questionable decisions from time to time. The final scene in particular where the vampires’ head-honcho clashes with the one who can defeat him is a prime example. Still, the [i]fun[/i]-factor is definitely strong which more or less is what this film is all about.

From a purely technical point of view, however, 30 Days of Night is most definitely amongst the better produced films I have seen in quite some time. It is polished but with a rough enough look to keep it away from the cartoonish and at times maddeningly tedious productions I mentioned earlier. The camerawork in particular is notably strong. I paid close attention to the comments provided in the featurette supplied in the extras department of this Blu-ray disc and the manner in which Barrow is captured is indeed very effective. Last but not least, the costumes and masks used for some of the more graphic scenes are, well, quite disturbing and sure to please those who get aroused by seeing plenty of red paint on display.

In conclusion, I must say that while 30 Days of Night will not set new standards of excellence within the genre it belongs to it will definitely please a certain contingent of fans, I assume a large one, who seek these types of films hoping to see an extreme story played by an intelligent cast. In this specific department 30 Days of Night most definitely delivers. On the purely visual side of things, where all of the excess occurs, the fans will not be disappointed either. The emphasis on detail is quite strong and as far as I am concerned providing the type of edge good horror films thrive on.

30 Days of Night Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, and granted a 1080p transfer 30 Days of Night is released in the United Kingdom by Icon Film Distribution. In the United States this film was released by SONY Pictures and from what I could tell the UK transfer appears identical to the US transfer. Detail in particular is at a very high level – the snowy fields during the daylight scenes in the very opening are incredibly lush and rich. Later on when the film switches into its "darker" mode the transfer continues to impress with consistency of detail which is often difficult to maintain. The color-scheme appears to be in tact as well and both whites and blacks are rendered adequately. I did not detect external DNR manipulation either – contrast appears natural and fine detail not manipulated. The actual print is of the highest quality possible. Icon Film Distribution have secured a print that is practically flawless - I could not detect any scratches, debris, or dirt. (Note: This is a Region-free release which you will be able to play on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographic location).

30 Days of Night Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

On this Blu-ray release you will find two audio tracks English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English: Dolby Digital 5.1. The DTS-HD Master mix is simply breathtaking!! 30 Days of Night is a film that offers a great deal of "reference" scenes and if you have the proper equipment to show-off this disc must make its way to your collection. Here's why: first, you get a tremendous amount of activity in the rear channels. Some of the audio kicks are so potent that during selected scenes one could really get caught off guard (watch out for those night creatures sneaking in). Second, superb balance. I love to hear a proficiently mixed soundtrack but what I love even more is hearing different colors - a variety of sounds ranging from subtle and delicate to powerful, crisp, and punchy. And yes, Icon Film Distribution's release of 30 Days of Night delivers precisely that: a masterfully done DTS-HD Master mix. Third, the excellent clarity of dialog. Even during some of the more messy scenes the audio producers have maintained a terrific quality of sound where every little bit comes off the speakers flawlessly. For the record, I did not detect any drop-outs, hissing, or pop-ups. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature and they do appear to be split (the overwhelming majority of the text is outside of the image frame). Finally, this is a region-free release which you will be able to play on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location.

30 Days of Night Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

On this Blu-ray disc you will find a full-blown commentary by Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and producer Rob Tarpet. I went through the entire commentary, from start to finish, and to be honest am pleasantly surprised by how informative it was. I actually went into it expecting to hear mostly jokes and generic chatter about the production, etc, but there are indeed some very interesting comments pertaining to the manner in which 30 Days of Night was put together. The second half of the commentary is indeed the better one as the trio gets comfortable and everyone relaxes a bit. Next is a gallery of thirty stills providing direct comparisons between pre-production sketches and actual "on location" shots. Finally, a large featurette has been broken down into smaller sections: "Pre-production", "Building Barrow", "The Look", "Blood, Guts, & Nasty #@$&!" "Stunts", "The Window Crash, The Car Attack, Roof Ambush", "The Vampire" "Night Shoots", and "Casting". As the secondary titles suggest each of these episodes addresses specific fragments from the production process. "Building Barrow" was the one bit that truly intrigued me as it virtually offers a blue print to what we are seeing in the film. The pre-production designs in particular were absolutely phenomenal and seeing how they became "real" was indeed a very special experience. The blood, masks, and costumes weren't as intriguing but the amount of attention they have received is certainly commendable.

30 Days of Night Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is impossible not to compare 30 Days of Night to John Carpenter's classic The Thing. The tension, the tempo, the gore, there is a lot here that many will find painfully familiar. Yet, 30 Days of Night certainly has an image of its own. There is a genuine sense of desperation in this film which drives the story and effectively negates a lot of the clichés the horror genre depends on. Yes, I liked what I saw! The UK release of 30 Days of Night, courtesy of Icon Film Distribution is of top-notch quality. As I mentioned in an earlier review I am now very, very impressed by what the company has put on the market. Highly Recommended.