Oppenheimer reminded audiences why Josh Hartnett is among Hollywood’s best performers, but did you know that the actor also starred in one of the most unique vampire horror movies of the 2000s? 30 Days of Night, adapted from Steve Niles’ eponymous comic, is a brutal film that’s now streaming completely for free on Pluto TV!

It was released in 2007 and followed an isolated Alaskan town that entered its annual month-long period of polar night. But in the freezing darkness, a savage pack of vampires turns the place into their feeding ground. Now, let’s look at what Hartnett has to say about the film, followed by why you should watch it. 

Here’s an overview of the feature:

Title30 Days of Night DirectorDavid SladeBased on30 Days of Night by Steve Niles CastJosh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Mark Boone JuniorRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer | Popcornmeter) 50% | 56%

Oppenheimer Star Josh Hartnett on His Vampire Horror Movie 

Josh Hartnett portrayed the pioneering scientist, Ernest Lawrence, in Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer. Even at the height of his Hollywood career, Hartnett was drawn to darker, unconventional genre roles. In 30 Days of Night, he played an exhausted and desperate sheriff trying to protect his town from vampire invasion. Here’s why the actor agreed to do the film, according to a 2007 interview (via Black Film). 

I grew up watching vampire movies and don’t think that there’s been an interesting look at the vampire genre in a long time. But the real reason I wanted to do the film was because of director David Slade’s vision. He came [to me] and laid out [his vision of] what the movie wanted to be like. And it seemed completely different from anything that I’d ever heard of before. Visceral and dark but something that’s also artistic. He always wanted to use very little score, but to have the score rattling and weird. Brian Rice is an amazing composer. He’s always done art film, independent films up until now.

Hartnett praised the movie’s stripped-down approach and compared the vampires to those in Nosferatu. He also joked that the film’s long shoot, which largely took place at night in New Zealand, completely disrupted his sleep cycle, and the experience almost felt like “method acting” for a vampire movie. 

Here’s Why You Should Watch Josh Hartnett’s 30 Days of Night 

There are plenty of entertaining vampire movies out there, but not all feel so hostile and terrifying as 30 Days of Night. Instead of turning vampires into seductive antiheroes, the film portrays them as pure predators who hunt, feed, and destroy. 

The movie’s biggest strength is its premise, which sounds like nightmare fuel! It builds great tension, and even visually, 30 Days of Night holds up well. Josh Hartnett’s character is the story’s emotional anchor, and if you’ve been a fan of his, you shouldn’t miss out on this one! So, will you be streaming this vampire-infested survival horror anytime soon? Let us know! 

30 Days of Night is currently playing on Pluto TV (USA). 
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