It is not often that we talk about new releases but this is well worth a mention, starring Josh Hartnett (Sin City) and produced by Mr. Evil Dead Sam Raimi, this is a really good adaptation of a graphic novel set in Alaska where they actually have a month of darkness – and who loves darkness more than vampires? No-one, that’s who, and these ones aren’t fruity crushed-velvet cloak-wearing ones. Remember what 28 Days Later did for zombies? Well this does it for vamps, making them super fast and strong as you like.

There are some pretty gut-wrenching scenes of violence and blood-play as well as a high level of blood and guts which always gets our vote.

We were really impressed with the crystal clear HD transfer and the whole perpetual darkness thing adds a real sense of atmosphere and of course hopelessness to the plight of the merry band of townsfolk struggling to survive until the sun comes up. By the way, if you thought Josh Harnett was a bit of a pretty boy who would be afraid to get his hands dirty, think again as he becomes an axe-wielding vampire slayer pretty easily.

Not that it is the most important thing in the world to us but the extras on the Blu-Ray disc are pretty good, and especially worth checking out are the comparisons between the original comic book and what eventually became the film. We’re pleased to say that is pretty true to the source material and adds to what is probably one of the first ‘must have’ discs of the year so far.

For a complete change of pace we also watched Shaolin Soccer last week. This movie almost defies explanation and can only really be seen to be believed, but in essence it’s a 2001 Chinese movie about a group of past it kung-fu masters and shaolin monks that use their skills to play football, with over the top wire fighting scenes and spontaneous dance routines mixed in for good measure.

It is pretty much a standard sports movie – can a ragtag bunch of losers make it to the big final and win the cup? We won’t spoil the ending for you but it might be a massive shocker.

There are a couple of versions of this movie knocking about but as usual we recommend the original subtitled Chinese version, as the US version was a little toned down, and this is the perfect introduction to high energy Asian movies and the work of director Stephen Chow which includes Kung Fu Hustle and the soon to be released CJ7.

[story by Simon Woodley]

A case in point is the Blade trilogy that people liked so much we got a TV series full of lunatic plotlines and enough fake fangs to restock the NHS. Heck, even John Carpenter’s Vampires managed two sequels and that had James Woods AND Daniel Baldwin.

They’re not all bad though, and while the prospect of a new bloodsucker flick starring master of the middle distance stare Josh Hartnett may not fill your soul with glee, we have some shocking news for you. 30 Days Of Night is actually not that bad.

OK, that’s hardly a poster quote (although please feel free to use it), but after Lucky Number Slevin the omens weren’t good for this one. Also, the plot is another to jump on the comic book adaptation bandwagon (there’s a copy included with the disc), and the female lead is Melissa George. Yes, that’s right, Angel out of Home and Away.

So just how have these factors combined to produce a decent film? Well it’s partly the fun premise. Josh is the sheriff of Barrow, Alaska; the northernmost town in the US, isolated in 80 miles of wilderness. As if that weren’t enough, the town is plunged into darkness for 30 days each year and alcohol is illegal all month.

That’s a real bummer, but nothing compared to the horror movie standards that follow, including mysteriously killed dogs, strange drifters and unresponsive phone lines.

Before you can say ‘I’ll check the basement’, a gang of dead eyed Vampires led by Danny Huston (surely only here for the cheque) have appeared, talking in a strange dialect and declaring open season on the town’s inhabitants.

Another draw is the skull cracking, torso tearing, eye popping violence that ensues, and the DVD release even gets upgraded to an 18 certificate from the original release’s 15.

Of course, a film about blood drinking beings was never going to be cutesy, but this is fairly graphically violent in a ‘several-blows-of-the-axe-to-sever-your-best-friend’s-head’ kind of a way.

It’s pitch black fun though, and as the vamps pick off anyone who so much as makes a noise, everything goes a bit Tremors on ice with a touch of The Thing as friends begin to turn on each other.

It’s a shame that Danny Huston features so little, with good moments including playing a record with his razor sharp fingernails, and there’s precious little back story other than a rushed romance between Hartnett and George, but that’s hardly the point.

As long as you can enjoy the simple pleasure of a few neat twists (like the ending), and the rarity of a solid Josh Hartnett performance, then this should at least bridge the gap until Samuel L Jackson signs on for Blade part four.

Buy 30 Days Of Night at Amazon

[story by Tom Atkinson]