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Movie Review by The Gravedigger
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10.20.07
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Based on the graphic novel by Steve Niles, this is one of the better vampires movies I've seen in years, portraying them as predators solely concerned with filling their bellies with blood. They are much more like the vampires from SALEM'S LOT than they are from INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE.
The story takes place in America's northernmost town, Barrow, Alaska, during the time of winter when it's dark for thirty days. A stranger (Ben Foster of SIX FEET UNDER, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND) appears a few days beforehand, destroying cell phones, killing the local kennel of sled dogs, preparing for when the vampires appear. Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett of H2O) is the sheriff and Stella (Melissa George of AMITYVILLE HORROR remake) his wife. She and her husband are separated but when she misses the last plane out of town she is stranded there for the next month. The two don't have time to deal with their estranged relationship because those vampires show up and quickly decimate the small town, going from house to house.
What I liked best about this movie is although it's the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD scenario, with the survivors hiding and barricading themselves in various buildings, it doesn't fall into the trap of being repetitive or boring. This movie moves! The vampires are gruesome, sort of like human piranhas. The actors also give good performances here and two of the supporting cast were also featured in THE FERRYMAN, another above-average horror movie released this year (2007). The ending is suitably depressing and surprised me, as it's not your typical Hollywood movie ending. It is a sad ending.
If you're a horror fan or not you will enjoy this unrelenting vampire movie.
Directed by David Slade, who did the excellent HARD CANDY.
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Rating: 8.2 out of 10.0 - 16 votes cast total
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