The Netflix Violent Dark Thriller Plunges Into The Longest Night

30 Days of Night is an adaptation of the same-name comic book series by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith and follows a plot that is nothing short of a masterclass in suspense and horror—so much so that it might deserve its own YouTube ad. Namely, the isolated town of Barrow, Alaska, enters a month-long polar night, allowing vampires to descend on the town, enticed by the prospect of an uninterrupted feast. This tosses Barrow’s townspeople into a desperate fight for survival, not just against the vampires but also against the very elements amplified by the long night.

It’s a rather interesting story in which some of the horror genre’s most vicious predators have to deal with human resourcefulness prompted by their will to live and not become vampire-feed. Vampires in 30 Days of Night are particularly well portrayed, and fortunately enough—at least for horror fans—that portrayal is far from the romanticized versions we now see in pop culture. They are monstrous and brutal in their slaughter but also very cunning and tactical, so much so that they contemplate burning down the whole town to hide the evidence of their existence.  

On one side, it’s refreshing to see vampires as Eastern European folklore portrayed them—nocturnal creatures with insatiable bloodthirst and unparalleled cunning—instead of glittery high-school boys who seem incapable of getting a tan. This provided 30 Days of Night with a significant cultural punch, and the film’s impact and influence were noted in subsequent horror releases outside its franchise—but more on its critical reception later.

The production of 30 Days of Night brought challenges, most of which were associated with the depictions of the continuous darkness of an Alaskan winter. Apart from that, director David Slade wanted to create an immersive and believable setting and a rather oppressive mood in the movie, and he used the very same vampires to do so. Namely, he consulted linguistic professors to construct a fictional vampire language with click consonants—because it seemed like something relentless predators would use during the hunt, adding a layer of mystery on top of horror.

30 Days of Night received a mixed critical reception, with criticism of certain plot holes. But the praise was mostly aimed at vampires, how well they were conceptualized, and the movie’s overall tone—with critics saying it’s way better than it should be. 30 Days of Night spawned a sequel, a prequel miniseries, and a straight-to-DVD movie sequel titled 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, which focused on the survivors of the original movie and her fight against the vampire queen, Lilith. For those who want to see this gem, 30 Days of Night is available on Netflix.