30 Days of Night

Name: 30 Days of Night
Director: David Slade
Genre: action, adventure, fantasy, horror
Released: 2007-08-11
Duration: 1 hr 53 min
Rating: 6
Cast: Amber Sainsbury, Ben Foster, Danny Huston, Josh Hartnett, Mark Rendall

IDW Publishing

1 hr 53 min

2007

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Trailer

30 Days of Night Storyline

Based on the acclaimed IDW comic series by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night transports the vampire mythos to one of the most isolated corners of the Earth — Barrow, Alaska — a town that plunges into a month-long polar night every winter.

As the sun sets for its 30-day absence, Barrow becomes the target of a vicious pack of vampires led by the savage Marlow (Danny Huston). With the town plunged into darkness and communication cut off, Sheriff Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) and a small group of survivors must outwit and outlast the bloodthirsty invaders until the sun finally rises again.

Stylish, violent, and drenched in dread, 30 Days of Night reinvents the vampire tale with brutal ferocity and a stark, atmospheric setting.

Director David Slade

Release date January 11, 2007

Genres

action adventure fantasy horror

Content rating 15

Duration 1 hr 53 min

Last Updated 07/08/2025

Cast

Amber Sainsbury Ben Foster Danny Huston Josh Hartnett Mark Rendall Melissa George

30 Days of Night Cast & Crew

Amber Sainsbury

Ben Foster

Danny Huston

Josh Hartnett

Mark Rendall

Melissa George

30 Days of Night Review - 6/10 Rating

30 Days of Night is a gritty, high-concept horror film that delivers on both style and scares. The premise alone is a winner — vampires invading during a month-long polar night — but it’s the execution that makes it memorable. The snowy, isolated setting of Barrow, Alaska, creates a truly claustrophobic and bleak atmosphere, enhancing the sense of hopelessness.

Josh Hartnett delivers a solid performance as the reluctant hero trying to protect his people, while Danny Huston’s Marlow is terrifying — a primal, snarling predator who speaks in a chilling alien language. The vampires here aren’t romanticized; they’re brutal, animalistic, and genuinely frightening.

Visually striking with its high-contrast cinematography and gruesome set pieces, 30 Days of Night does have moments where pacing lags or characters thin out, but its mood and brutality keep it engaging throughout. It’s one of the more unique and effective vampire films of the 2000s.

30 Days of Night Trivia

Did You Know?

Based on a Comic Book: The film is adapted from the IDW graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, originally pitched as a movie before becoming a comic.
Filmed in New Zealand: Despite being set in Alaska, most of the movie was shot in New Zealand, using fake snow and specially constructed sets to recreate Barrow.
Invented Vampire Language: The vampires speak a completely made-up language, created by a linguist specifically for the film to make them feel more ancient and alien.
Danny Huston Went Full Method: To get into character, Danny Huston kept to himself on set and avoided interacting with the cast — helping maintain the vampires’ sense of “otherness.”
Visually Inspired by the Comic: The film closely mimics the colour palette and visual aesthetic of Templesmith’s artwork — lots of dark shadows and stark reds against snow.
Steve Niles on Set: Co-creator Steve Niles was heavily involved during production and praised how faithful the film was to his source material.
Ben Foster’s Creepy Role: Ben Foster plays the strange human “harbinger” — a Renfield-like character who warns of the vampires’ arrival and serves as a bridge between humans and monsters.
One of the Bloodiest Studio Horror Films: The film was notably violent for a mainstream release, with fast, visceral kills and scenes of mass slaughter.
Josh Hartnett’s Unlikely Casting: Known for heartthrob roles in earlier films, Hartnett surprised many with his grounded, gritty performance in a much darker genre.
Practical Effects Galore: While some CGI was used, many of the kills, makeup, and effects were done practically to give the violence more weight and realism.