30 More Days of Vampires

30 Days of Night (2007) was the last really great vampire movie released during the previous five years. Sure, there were lots of near-misses (I’m looking in your direction Daybreakers/2009), but none that matched the intensity (a whole month in which to feed on humans who don’t want them to suck out all their neck oil), ingenuity (set in an Alaskan oil town during the annual 30 day solstice during which there is no sunlight), and full-on graphic ickiness (axe, I’d like you to meet head, neck and arms), to say nothing of the artful contrast of fresh, steaming red blood splattered across pure white snow. And the sequel, 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, looks to lather, rinse and repeat all of the above.

So with a vampire movie this good, why the stinkin’ solstice did it take this long to bust a nut on the sequel? Seems like any ’tard with a hand-held video camera who makes a vampire movie can get it released. But I suppose only Hollywood in its infinite wisdom could answer that. But I’m just thankful it’s being done at all. Where I have a few reservations, however, is with the plot. Read it first and I’ll summarize as soon as you’re done. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

It’s been a year since the Alaskan town of Barrow’s population was decimated by vampires during its annual month long sunset. Riddled with grief over the death of her husband, bound by nightmares and void of all emotions beyond hate and sorrow, Stella has spent the past months traveling the world, trying to convince others that vampires exist. Met with skepticism and laughter, Stella is ready to throw in the towel when a group of lost souls offers an incredible opportunity: the chance to exact revenge upon Lilith, the vampire queen responsible for the assault on her sleepy Alaskan town. With nothing remaining to live for, and nothing left to fear, Stella joins their mission and ventures into the uncharted underbelly of Los Angeles where she pushes herself to the most extreme limits to stop the evil from striking again.

Two things: Moving the action to L.A. is hardly inspired and threatens to turn 30 Days of Night: Dark Days into just another dumb vampire-in-Los Angeles movie. Was the South Pole not available? Secondly, Kiele Sanchez takes over as Stella, who was played by the snow-meltingly hot Melissa George (Triangle/2009, Amityville Horror/2005). Mind you, Ms. Sanchez is equally thermal. But for continuity and closure, I would’ve preferred Melissa. I’ll wait, though, to pass judgment and let thy tingly pants happen wherever it shall.

Either way, Dark Days is skipping theaters and going straight to DVD (not a good sign). From the movie company’s fancy pants website: “Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced DVD ($24.96) and Blu-ray ($30.95) releases of 30 Days of Night: Dark Days for October 5th. Extras will include a Filmmaker Commentary, and a Vampires Exist: The Gritty Realism of Dark Days featurette. The Blu-ray release will also include an exclusive Graphic Inspirations: Comic to Film feature.”

30 Days of Night was based on the sick ass cool three-issue horror comic book mini-series of the same name by Steve Niles and illustrated (or drew) by Ben Templesmith. After 30 Days of Night: Dark Days comes out, I’ll send them an e-mail asking them what they thought. If I get an e-mail back with a frowny emoticon, I’ll know they didn’t like it.