Blood and vampires go hand and hand, so with as much blood being drank up in “30 Days of Night” there is sure to be a reinvention of the vampire.

Usually portrayed as sleuth-like and sexy, often dressed in leather with two sharp canines the vampires in “30 Days of Night” are an entirely new breed. Equipped with upper and lower rows of razor sharp teeth, these vamps have looks to kill. Bird like in appearance, they glare with onyx eyes and throughout the movie are bathed in human blood, enjoying their feast. And they speak there own language, subtitles and all, no English accent heard. These are the first vampires to actually be scary and not so comic book even though this is based on a graphic novel.

At one point one of the prey ask for God’s help and the return response of the predator is, “no God.” There is no mercy in their killing.

The movie takes place in the small town of Barrow, Alaska. At this point in the year, the sun dies covering the land in darkness for, yes, 30 days of night. A stranger (Ben Foster) enters the town to give a warning that the Vampires are soon coming saying things like “that cold ain’t the weather, that’s death approaching.” The ancient creatures arrive and it’s hell on earth for the Alaskan town and the blood begins to flow.

Josh Hartnett plays Eben, the handsome and smart asthmatic Sheriff. He’s a man who is just trying to do his job and save a few of the town folk until daylight. He later finds himself with an axe in his hand chopping the heads off of his friends who have turned from human to vampire.

Melissa George plays Stella, the town fire sergeant and gorgeous ex-wife to Eben. She plays her role with a heart that borders on being cold as ice and trying to keep a smile toward her ex.

The film is shockingly bloody and made some heads turn when a pack of sled dogs gets massacred and a little girl’s head gets lopped off. But it’s ok, she was a vampire and it had to be done.

Blood and more blood, this movie uses a lot of it. It’s not over done and director David Slade doesn’t skimp. This is a great thing especially in the scene where it shows Hartnett take an ax to his buddy’s neck. Deep red blood gushes and the camera captures the jaw dropping moment of seeing a human head being cut off, not in one fail swoop, but a few jagged swings through bone and flesh. The use of red is done with a grisly beauty.

The camera work reflects of the snow, gleaming, as the sun slowly sets. The shots are made to look cold making movie goers turn icy. The real chill though comes when the vampires let loose one of there shrill cry’s right before digging into a necks carotid.

Slade captures an over head shot of the first major slaughter of the town’s people, it’s quiet and startling. The viewer gets to gander people attempting to escape then being brought down in a splash their own blood, being dragged off and beheaded.

“30 Days of Night” refreshes a stale genre and brings the legend of the vampire back with all the intended gruesomeness. The blood is pumping and these vampires want it bad, so watch your backs and make sure to cover your necks.