30 Days of Night Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Vampires exploit Alaskan Airbnb loopholes during the annual month-long night, but a sheriff and his ex-wife throw a wrench in their vacation plans.

🍿 30 Days of Night: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Stage: Barrow’s Impending Darkness

The film opens in Barrow, Alaska, a town located far north within the Arctic Circle. As the community prepares for its annual 30 days of darkness, most residents leave to avoid the extended period without sunlight. Sheriff Eben Oleson and his estranged wife, Stella, remain, dealing with the challenges of a small, isolated town facing the long night.

Signs of Trouble: A Stranger’s Arrival

A mysterious stranger arrives in Barrow, setting off a chain of unsettling events. He sabotages communication lines, destroys the town’s helicopter, and slaughters sled dogs, creating an atmosphere of fear and unease. Sheriff Eben investigates these crimes, sensing a sinister presence looming over the town.

The Vampire Onslaught: Barrow Under Siege

As darkness descends, a vicious group of vampires, led by the ruthless Marlow, attacks Barrow. They isolate the town, cutting off all contact with the outside world and unleashing a brutal rampage. The remaining residents are forced into hiding, struggling to survive against the relentless vampire onslaught.

Survival and Sacrifice: Fighting Back in the Dark

Amidst the chaos, Eben, Stella, and a handful of survivors band together, seeking refuge and devising strategies to fight back. They face harrowing choices and make desperate sacrifices to protect each other and hold onto hope. The brutal reality of their situation forces them to confront their deepest fears and test the limits of their resilience.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett): The sheriff of Barrow, Alaska, who must protect his town from a vampire attack during the month-long polar night.
• Stella Oleson (Melissa George): Eben’s estranged wife, who becomes a key figure in the fight for survival against the vampires.
• Marlow (Danny Huston): The intelligent and ruthless leader of the vampire clan that descends upon Barrow.
• The Stranger (Ben Foster): A mysterious and disturbing outsider who arrives in Barrow and sets the stage for the vampires’ arrival.
• Beau Brower (Mark Boone Junior): A resourceful Barrow resident who uses his snowplow to fight back against the vampires.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Marlow: “When man meets a force he can’t destroy, he destroys himself. What a plague you are.” – Marlow says this to Eben, lamenting humanity’s nature while showcasing the vampires’ superior, destructive power.
• The Stranger: “They’re coming. You’re all going to die.” – The Stranger warns the townspeople of the impending vampire attack, foreshadowing the doom that awaits them.
• Eben: “No sun. No help. Just us.” – Eben realizes the gravity of the situation and the town’s isolation, emphasizing the survivors’ reliance on each other.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $30,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $39,569,000
• Worldwide Gross: $75,513,170

💥 30 Days of Night Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this in the theater back in ’07. What stuck with me the most was the sheer brutality of the vampires. It was like a punch to the gut! The scene where they first attack the town – pure chaos and terror. Josh Hartnett was surprisingly good, and the Alaskan setting added a layer of chilling isolation that made the whole experience even more unsettling. I left the theater feeling genuinely creeped out, and that’s what a good horror movie should do!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of vampire horror movies.”
  • “Viewers who appreciate intense, gory action.”
  • “Those interested in survival stories set in extreme environments.”
  • “People looking for a darker, less romanticized take on vampire mythology.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense violence and gore”
  • “Graphic depictions of blood and death”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Brief strong language”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “David Slade’s ’30 Days of Night’ delivers visceral thrills and chilling atmosphere, but the plot is thin and character development lacking.
• IGN: “A bloody good time! ’30 Days of Night’ revitalizes the vampire genre with genuinely scary creatures and a relentless sense of dread.
• Empire: “While ’30 Days of Night’ offers intense visuals and some truly terrifying vampires, it ultimately suffers from a predictable storyline.

Audience Reactions

The vampires are terrifying and unlike any seen before in movies.: Viewers loved the fresh take on vampires, portraying them as feral, bloodthirsty creatures.

The setting of a town plunged into darkness for 30 days is incredibly effective.: Audiences praised the atmospheric and isolated Alaskan setting.

Overall Consensus: ’30 Days of Night’ is a visually stunning and intense horror film that revitalizes the vampire genre, though some find the plot lacking depth.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The vampires in the film speak a completely original language, created specifically for the movie by a linguistics professor at a New Zealand university.”
• “Director David Slade aimed for a grounded, realistic feel, avoiding excessive CGI in favor of practical effects and atmospheric cinematography to enhance the sense of isolation and dread.”
• “The film was shot entirely in New Zealand, despite being set in Alaska. Auckland’s wintery conditions helped to simulate the Alaskan environment.”
• “The opening Columbia Pictures logo is desaturated, fading to blues and grays to reflect the film’s cold and bleak tone.”

🖥️ How to Watch 30 Days of Night?

30 Days of Night is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable options and availability. It is not currently available on major subscription streaming services like Netflix or Disney+.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed 30 Days of Night, you might like these similar films:

• The Thing (1982): Features a remote, snowbound setting and a group of people facing a deadly, relentless threat, creating intense paranoia and isolation.
• Near Dark (1987): Explores a more feral and less romanticized depiction of vampires, focusing on their brutal nature and nomadic lifestyle.
• The Descent (2005): Survival horror where a group confronts monstrous creatures in a claustrophobic and isolated environment, relying on each other to survive.
• 28 Days Later (2002): Presents a bleak and brutal scenario with fast-moving, rage-filled creatures that overwhelm humanity, emphasizing survival and desperation.

🛒 30 Days of Night Related Products

• 30 Days of Night (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the chilling atmosphere with Brian Reitzell’s haunting score from the film.
• 30 Days of Night (Blu-ray): Experience the visual terror of the film in high definition with exclusive behind-the-scenes features.
• 30 Days of Night Graphic Novel: The original comic book series by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith. Limited Editions available
• 30 Days of Night Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the iconic movie poster to display your love for the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

30 Days of Night features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Mare” – performed by Brian Reitzell
• “Attack” – performed by Brian Reitzell
• “Run” – performed by Brian Reitzell

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

30 Days of Night (2007) Explored

Curious about the inspiration behind ’30 Days of Night’? This video dives into the comic book origins and explores how they shaped the movie’s story and characters.

Is Lilith The First Vampire? – 30 Days of Night Explained

Ever wondered about the origins of the vampires in ’30 Days of Night’? This video explores the theories and provides fascinating details from the comics and the movie.

30 DAYS OF NIGHT Has The Best Vampires

Prepare to be spooked! This video delves into what makes the vampires in ’30 Days of Night’ so terrifying and memorable.

The Vampires From 30 Days of Night (2007)

Get ready for a vampire deep dive! This video analyzes the unique characteristics and behaviors of the vampires in ’30 Days of Night’.

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