In-depth review of the movie “30 Days of Night”
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30 Days of Night
~ Spoilers ~
The movie about phantoms of the night. Creators wished to deviate from romantic image of vampires and return them in the natural animal condition that casts primal fear.
This movie was announced as a horror about vampires. Both horror and vampires have turned out so real as far as modern cinema can create. Story, people and scenery of action are merely a background.
Comics
Graphic novel written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Ben Templesmith contains an idea conceived when authors visited Alaska. Steve Niles linked ancient legends about vampires with modern living conditions in the small town cut off from the world. Main story line of the comic book differs from a screen version slightly; images of antagonists are simplified to imaging vampires as Nosferatu from old black-and-white movies.
“30 Days of Night” comics are not limited to one story - there are sequels, side stories and additional issues.
Facts and theories
There are episodes inconspicuous at first look among action scenes and dialogues but which have a key value for the plot. It's easy to miss one phrase or action scene and done understand movie’s logic. And it is evident that a spectator who doesn’t understood an essence of the movie becomes the most furious critic.
Barrow - the northernmost city of the USA plunges into darkness for 30 days every winter. The movie begins with appearance of the stranger for a reason. As it becomes evident from dialogues, he has arrived from an oil rig. It is obvious that previous “destination” of vampires’ journey was the oil rig and they have arrived by a vessel with one survived man.
The stranger was left by undead as a minion. He hopes to deserve the right to become a vampire. As Stephen King bequeathed - minions are not favored by nightcrawlers. Vampires are squeamish even to drink their blood.
There is an opinion that a vampire kills the stranger quickly thus sparing him and not using as a victim as a gratitude for his work. In this case character’s words that they'll take him away have no sense.
According to the movie two things can kill a vampire: sunlight (ultraviolet) and beheading. First of all it's necessary to weaken the defense of the town for good and cut it off from the continent at the same time. The stranger destroys mobile phones, the only one helicopter and all dogs. With approach of the darkness vampires shut down electricity in the town.
Not anyone can be turned into a vampire. However any scratch left by a vampire turns human into this creature automatically. Therefore it is necessary for vampires to control their numbers by decapitating victims. Also for their own safety no witnesses should be left alive - it is necessary to kill everyone to remain only as a bad dream for the mankind.
Night phantoms speak dead ancient language. From all Marlow's philosophical speeches it is possible to understand only two words: Mormon and upyr (Old Russian word for vampire). The author of the plot among sources of information referred to Old Russian annals where word “upyr” is mentioned. Probably the creators just placed this definition in undead lexicon endowing it with their own meaning. But if there is an information between the lines it's easy to make a link between the look of master vampires and their origin. Their appearance corresponds to traditions of Mormons and, besides, they are wearing too light clothes for the north.
Based on monologue you can assume that age of the vampire leader is several centuries minimum.
Humanity
Vampires in the movie live according to their well-established principles. They have hierarchy, original behavioral culture and a strategy of attacks. They are much smarter than protagonists and at the same time their behavioral logic is the same as of usual people. How many people think about feelings of the beings lower on the food chain? Why superior ones should think about such matters?
Marlow kills the burnt vampire woman to relieve her sufferings. As does sheriff Eben when he kills his friends turned into vampires.
The undead explains that people have no other choice - it's useless to fight the superior force. But whether vampires have such a choice if they as well as people wish to survive?
The impression that undead attack people chaotically thus turning the attack into hunting is wrong. Their tactic is very effective though old as the hills: they use survived people as a bait for ones that are still hiding, they turn children into vampires and use them as a distraction (few will dare to chop off head of a child even if he or she is not human anymore), consistency of operations (the commander is going first during pursuit, volunteers are performing reconnaissance etc.).
Also it's mistake to believe that vampires have killed all the inhabitants during the first day. Survived woman gives a basis for assumption that she was not the only one left alive. If the vampires starved for days then they would pay no attention to the bait.
The only time when the absence of logic is evident is when Marlow fights Eben. There is no surprise that Marlow is taking part in the fight: a neophyte cannot win a hand-to-hand fight with a master under no circumstances. Seems like this fact is known to everyone except the creators of the movie.
Goofs
In Barrow polar night lasts for 67 days, but there are twilights for few hours every day.
The population of Barrow is about 4400 people.
Airplanes fly to the northern town once a day minimum.
In Barrow sale of alcohol is forbidden at any time of year.
There are no sheriffs in Alaska; territory is controlled by police or civilians.
Crude oil cannot ignite from a match.
Because of cutted out scenes there are some mismatched plots in the story.
Sound
The movie soundtrack is almost identical to “28 Weeks Later” one. Each appearance of undead is accompanied by the shouts that excite your mind. Because of this method, violence scenes make unforgettable impression of horror besides impact of unexpectedness (switch-off-the-sound-it-makes-me-crazy). The music could be an ideal if not its rare occurrence and the similarity to the abovementioned zombie movie (even in a trailer the main theme from “28 Weeks Later” was playing - Muse “Apocalypse Please”).
You can listen to the dialogues of survived persons, but it's better not to. Generally speaking, when the inhabitants of the small town appear on the screen, you may pay no attention to the movie and wait for the next attack of the vampires. Really, why the hell meat should have any mind?
Dubbing is mediocre and interpretation is inaccurate. One thing could make you pleased: voices of the vampires are not dubbed.
Shooting
The landscape was filmed perfectly - the quality of scenery shots is so high that it would be better to replace most of the dialogues with them.
Close-ups create an impression of old school horror movies.
Usage of shivering camera method has beaten all conceivable records. However many mistakes are not visible because of it (for example, in an episode where vampires are chasing Eben's off-road vehicle only during slow-motion viewing it is possible to notice that Stella dumps not a person, but the mannequin).
There are doubts about the dark city shootings only. In the absence of illumination in the north the snow is visible only and it is impossible to figure out who is coming to you even at a distance of five meters. But the movie creates an impression that each house is illuminated with a searchlight.
Most distinctive feature of this movie is make-up. Cinema vampires have never looked so “alive”.
Verdict
One of the most worthy horror movie about vampires that was released lately. It is most advisable that you go to the cinema to watch it. Screen copies will “please” especially quirky spectators with an absence of the most spectacular scenes.
I still believe that the movie will not be limited to the distributed version and an uncensored director’s cut will be released.
The sequel to this film has been already announced.
Did you know that…?
The Stranger has the New Orleans accent (State of Louisiana).
The language that vampires speak does not exist. It was invented for this film by the following people: Danny Huston, the actor that plays the leader of vampires, Sam Raimi, producer, and Steve Niles.
Ben Templesmith was one of the artists working on “Silent Hill” comic books.
18-11-2006 © st-MK
Translation © n_gubkin, knwlss, st-MK