30 Days of Night Review
or The first movie I Didn’t Want Josh Hartnett to Die In

Last Thursday while working at the mall, my coworker mentioned that she was going to the midnight showing of 30 Days of Night, the new vampire film set in Barrow, Alaska based on a graphic novel by Steve Niles. And starring Josh Hartnett.
Let me start by saying that I have nothing personal against Mr. Hartnett, he seems like a decent enough fellow, still hangs out with buds from high school at the local video store, says nice things about his former high school and the teachers there. It’s really more of an artist thing I have (had?) against him - that he was set up for a very long and successful career in acting, interning at the Jungle under famed artists… and then he went and became a teen heart throb. And, in my opinion, he isn’t even very good looking. And he was definitely not ready for film.
Now, the personal connection I have with him is that we went to the same high school (not at the same time). He was just getting famous when I entered high school and I was immediately disgusted by the way everyone oohhed and ahhhed over him and the fact he had gone to South. I got over that sort of thing in elementary school, telling everyone how Rachel Lee Cook braided my sister’s hair in 4th grade. But I don’t hold his fans against him, really I don’t.
I was disgusted by the Faculty, and a little angry at how he brought down Sin City with his mediocre performance. Keep in mind, in many ways I feel he is representing Minnesota, and Minneapolis specifically, every time he is in a film. That’s just the way my directors raised me-to be an ambassador for your home whenever performing.
So, needless to say I was shocked (pleasantly) when I decided to go with my friends to the see 30 days of night, and liked what I saw. When we first meet him, he automatically did something that my conservatory acting teacher would have been shocked by, but what any northerner knows is the truth (something you constantly search for as an actor). He hid his chin in his parka while standing outside. Brilliant! Right off the bat I thought, “wow! Maybe he has turned a new leaf”
This is the only example of brilliance I can recall, but I grew to like his character more and more and by the end I was hoping he wouldn’t die, which is a lot more then I can say for any other movie I have seen him in.
I recommend this film, but don’t expect to be scared or awed by special effects (they take a lot of short cuts, which makes it a lot less bloody, but also a lot less artistic).