I love a horror movie that makes me jump, scream, or gasp. And it has been such a long time since I've seen one, especially one without gratuitous sex, blood, and violence. Okay, so 30 Days of Night does have blood and violence, but more importantly is has elements of what I guess good film-making should have.

First, I haven't read the comics, or the novelization. So I came to this blind, roped in the freaky trailors and the need for Velvetta. Velveeta it wasn't.

Color and its tints are used to convey encroaching horror in the beginning of the flick. We first learn a bit about the key characters and their own personal demons, which is done subtly against a back drop of discovering odd occurances. It reminded me of Pitch Black.

Once it does go dark, the violence is upgraded. We don't see what commits the heinous acts. Instead you see blurs and you hear silence, a unique technique that is carried through the film. When you expect blood curdling screams, explosions, or cries, there is only silence. It is in the quiet parts where the action moves purposefully that you hear blood curdling shreiks.

When you do discover that yes, these are vampires, they are just foreign enough for the audience to feel disjointed. And the characters don't recognize them for what they are. This is the beauty of the film. There are maybe two vampire jokes. But the audience is keenly aware that the characters do not recognize the danger before them because the don't believe in them.

Unlike most of the recent horror flicks, the audience witnesses the surviving characters' struggles with their everyday lives, which of course, is overshadowed by looming tragedy. Even if you don't grow to care for the characters, you do feel their suspense and you may just admire the hope that they have. If they can just live through thirty days of darkness....

And did I mention I jumped? And screamed....twice. Well worth the price of admission, as inflated as that was.