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Director: David Slade

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Mark Rendall

After a couple of small-scale character films, novice director, David Slade had a bit of a budget to make this blood-soaked, but still weak vampire film. The story, based on a graphic novel series, has an interesting premise, but an execution that requires all logic levers to be put into the off position. The script is ok, but the dialog lacks any snap and the action, what little there is, is often filmed in the jerky hand-held style. The characters lack development, which makes it hard to care much about them. The acting is ok, but can only do so much with a mediocre script.

Josh Hartnett is Eben Olsen. a small-town sheriff for the Alaskan town of Barrow, which is suffering from a strange string of property crimes and is also watching many of its residents getting ready to leave for a month because the town is about to be plunged into a month of mid-winter darkness. Among those preparing to leave on the last plane is Olsen’s estragned wife, Stella (Melissa George). Logic gets on that plane and leaves, but when circumstances keep Stella in town. Almost immediately, the town’s remaining residents are forced into a month long fight for survival against a band of bloodthirsty vampires. There is some nice tension and a little suspense, but you can’t think too much.

The bad guys are sometimes cunning vampires (apparently with impressive technical knowledge) and sometimes growling zombie-like creatures. The survivors seem to get supplies from nowhere and the action scenes could have been more impressive. Still, it is acceptable Friday night horror movie fare for those who remembered and enjoyed movies like Near Dark (far better) and John Carpenter’s Vampires (about on an even level)

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