30 Days of Night (2007)

So I just finished watching this killer episode of The Ultimate Fighter, and they used clips from 30 Days of Night to show vampires that actually look terrifying—nothing like that sparkly stuff in Twilight.

I was really hoping for a heavy atmosphere, tons of mystery, and some genuinely intense scenes.

Honestly, even the setup is pretty solid.
You’ve got these mysterious disappearances, a small town left totally vulnerable for 30 days, and this creepy stranger showing up out of nowhere.

But then, everything just goes off the rails.

They reveal the vampires way too fast, and they're way too obvious.

The massacre happens right at the start, which basically kills any sense of suspense or dread in the town. After that, the whole thing feels less like horror and more like a WW2 movie about spies hiding or people trying to stay safe in an attic.

Sure, there are some psychologically brutal and sadistic moments, but that’s not what makes a horror movie work.

Bottom line? It had massive potential, but the execution was super weak.

Also, those scenes where the main vampire is talking don't even matter to the plot, so translating them feels pointless. Plus, the whole idea of them patrolling for days on end didn't feel tense to me at all.

30 Days of Night franchise.

In my opinion, the 30 Days of Night franchise contains one of the better horror films out there. I watched it a few years ago, so I cannot recall every specific detail, but those vampires are definitely the type you wouldn't want to encounter; they are fast, bloodthirsty, and terrifying to look at.
Why do you use the word "sloppy"?

I honestly have no clue what you people see in that movie. Like, there’s even an entire dedicated thread for it, for crying out loud. If you actually want to watch a real vampire flick, go check out Jack (2009) 😬

It’s honestly such a tragedy when a killer comic gets absolutely trashed by a totally subpar adaptation...

If you're into actual bloodsuckers rather than those trendy emo types, you should check out Carpenter's Vampire.

The only thing better than a good vampire flick is watching hunters track down that same kind of beast 🙂.

I’d also suggest Frostbite... that scene involving the SS deep in the American wilderness is legendary.

irontiger29 said:It’s such a fantastic comic book, but they totally ruined it with this awful adaptation..

I'm curious, what specifically didn't work for you in the movie? Personally, I actually thought the comic was adapted really well! 🤷

Patrick Martin said:I honestly don't get what people see in that movie. It even has its own dedicated thread and everything. Just go watch an actual vampire film instead. Jack (2009) 😬

I guess Jack is just more pretentious, boring Asian garbage to me. 😁

Regarding the 30 Days of Night franchise, it’s just your average vampire flick, though I guess you have to admit the vampires look pretty good. Still, the old Dracula and that Swedish one are probably my all-time favorites.

Henry Chase said:What exactly is bothering you about the movie? Honestly, I thought they did a killer job adapting the comic 🤷

so basically... everything 😁 but seriously, is the comic actually gonna keep coming out? Everything after the third one is total garbage, even if the art is absolutely stunning

Ashley Kern said:To Jack movie is just some pretentious, boring Asian crap😁

So what's your take on Tiger and Dragon?

Man, this horror flick is awesome. They nailed the vampire design—super creepy stuff, especially with all that darkness in Antarctica.
What’s the deal with that "Frostbite" movie you mentioned? I checked IMDb and it looks like it’s got a way lower rating than this one.

By the way, the 30 Days of Night franchise actually has a sequel... it's called 30 Days of Night: Dark Days

Patrick Martin said:What's your take on Tiger and Dragon?

It's fine 🙂

But I can't stand those flying kung fu stunts. 😁 Ip Man is the best kung fu movie out there, honestly better than Lee's. In this one, the student just doesn't beat the master. ☕

irontiger29 said:So, to wrap it up... everything 😁but really, I'm wondering if the comic is actually going to keep coming out? Honestly, everything after the first volume has been a bit of a mess, though I have to admit the artwork is absolutely stunning.

Personally, I started feeling like the comic was losing its way starting right with "Dark Days," so basically from the second volume onward. 😉

But hey, it doesn't even matter! I thought the movie was fantastic... a total breath of fresh air for the vampire genre! That whole Alaskan setting just hits different... such an incredible atmosphere... and, yeah, the vampires definitely talk more in the comic... if anything, it feels like they do even more there than they did in the film. 😉

Quite good, and the atmosphere is absolutely superb.

Patrick Martin said:I honestly can't wrap my head around what everyone sees in that movie! I mean, there’s an entire dedicated thread for it and everything, which just seems like overkill to me. If you actually want to see a real, properly made vampire film, you really need to go watch something else instead. I was just sitting here thinking back to that 2009 release, Jack, and honestly, it really sticks in my mind! It’s one of those films that stays with you long after the credits roll, isn't it? I remember watching it on a rainy Tuesday night—probably with a huge bowl of popcorn, if I'm being honest—and just getting completely sucked into the atmosphere they created. There was something so unique about the way it was put together that year; it didn't feel like everything else coming out at the time. Even now, looking back, I find myself appreciating the craft behind it more than I did during that first viewing. It’s definitely one of those gems that deserves a bit more attention! 😬

Oh, come on, you can't be serious about Jack! You really have to sit down and give it a watch.

I was just sitting here thinking about some old-school horror gems, and I couldn't help but let my mind wander back to *The Jitters* from 1989! Honestly, there’s just something so incredibly nostalgic about those late 80s flicks, isn't there? It really takes me back to those Friday nights spent huddled on the couch with a huge bowl of popcorn, waiting for that specific kind of tension to build up on the screen. Even though it's a bit of a deep cut, it has such a unique energy that you just don't see much in modern cinema anymore. I always find myself revisiting these older titles because they have this raw, unpolished charm that feels so much more personal than the big-budget blockbusters we see today!

I was just scrolling through IMDb earlier today and stumbled upon the page for this classic, and I honestly couldn't help but get a little nostalgic! It’s one of those films that really stays with you, isn't it? There’s just something about the way these older stories are told that modern cinema sometimes struggles to replicate, even with all our fancy CGI and high-budget spectacles. I remember sitting down to watch this years ago, maybe on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Chicago, and being completely captivated by the atmosphere. It’s such a standout piece of filmmaking, and looking back at the details on the page really reminded me why it holds such a special place in my heart. If you haven't had the chance to revisit it lately, I highly recommend carving out some time this weekend to dive back in—it's truly worth it!

You know, I was just thinking about those Asian vampire tropes you see in movies—those guys who leap around like kangaroos with their hands thrown out in front of them! It’s such a specific vibe. Apparently, if you actually want to stop one of them, you can't just use brute force; you have to take a scrap of paper covered in some kind of ancient, mystical calligraphy and slap it right onto their forehead, though of course, it has to be soaked in blood to actually work! 🤣

Ashley Kern said:Look, I’m just gonna say it: that whole Jack movie is nothing but some pretentious, boring-as-hell Asian crap. 😁

Patrick Martin said:So, you're asking about Tiger and Dragon? Honestly, man, it’s one of those movies that just... ugh. You know how some films try way too hard to be deep or epic and end up just feeling hollow? That's this one for me. It’s like if you took a bunch of flashy martial arts moves, threw them into a blender with a script that barely holds water, and hoped the spectacle would distract everyone from the fact that there's zero substance underneath. I was sitting there thinking, "Really? This is what we're doing now?" It’s all style, no soul. Just feels kind of empty, if you ask me.

Ashley Kern I can't even begin to process this. It’s like when you're trying to explain a simple concept to someone and they just stare at you blank with that blank look—you know the one. I'm sitting here, looking at what was said, and honestly? My brain is just short-circuiting. It's like trying to drive through a blizzard in a sedan without winter tires; you're just spinning your wheels in the mud while everyone else is cruising by on the highway. Total chaos. Just pure, unadulterated nonsense.
Hey. 🙂

My bad, little one, I'm offline for a bit, but from what I can see, this thread isn't exactly a crowded subway at rush hour anyway. 😬

Look, if you think Tiger and Dragon is "not pretentious," then calling a single vampire flick pretentious just doesn't pass the smell test. It’s logically broken. Jack is pure innovation. Seriously, Jack is everything except pretentious. ☕.

Patrick Martin said:Sorry, I'm a bit out of the loop here, but looking at this thread, it doesn't seem like there's much going on😬

If you think Tiger and Dragon is good because it isn't pretentious, then calling one vampire movie pretentious just isn't a fair way to judge film. Jack is an innovation. Jack is anything but pretentious☕.

What does that even have to do with anything? You're looking at movies through a different lens entirely. Personally, I thought Jack was just boring and bad; it didn't do anything for me. There are plenty of better vampire movies than that PRETENTIOUS crap😛 😁

Tiger and Dragon is fine, nothing more🙂.

irontiger29 said:So, to wrap things up... everything 😁 though, I wonder if they'll actually keep releasing the comic series? Honestly, everything after the third installment has been kind of a mess, even if the artwork is absolutely stunning.

Come on, you've gotta give me at least one example, because personally, I felt like the movie adaptation stayed incredibly true to the source material and honestly stands out as one of the better ones when it comes to faithfulness.
By the way, I have no clue about any future releases. I've read the first three volumes, and while the first one was definitely my favorite, the next two just didn't really do much for me.

Hey everyone! If anyone is looking to dive into this universe, here is the exact reading order for the graphic novels...

1. 30 Days of Night
2. 30 Days of Night: Dark Days
3. 30 Days of Night - Return to Barrow
4. 30 Days of Night - Bloodsucker Tales
5. 30 Days of Night - Three Tales
6. 30 Days of Night - Spreading the Disease
7. 30 Days of Night - Eben and Stella
8. 30 Days of Night - Red Snow
9. 30 Days of Night - Beyond Barrow
10. 30 Days of Night franchise

Just realized this was basically an adaptation of a comic book 🤦
If that’s the case, then I guess it is what it is. Since I’ve never actually picked up a single issue of the 30 Days of Night comic, I kind of owe everyone an apology for trashing it so hard. Looking back at those first few posts, there was no way for me to know—it wasn't mentioned. And look, if you're talking about an adaptation, my whole perspective shifts a bit. It makes things better, sure, but we aren't talking about a complete 180 here...

Patrick Martin said:I just realized this is actually an adaptation of a comic book! 🤦
If that’s the case, then I guess it makes sense, and since I’ve honestly never picked up a single issue of the 31 Nights comic, I feel like I should apologize for being such a critic. Looking back at those first few posts, there was no way for me to know that wasn't mentioned, because if you're dealing with an adaptation, my whole perspective shifts slightly for the better—though maybe not by a huge amount...

Look, I don't know if you're a big fan of graphic novels or not, but if you are, you have to admit that the original source material is basically part of our shared pop culture DNA. 🙂