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Melissa George and Josh Hartnett in 30 Days of Night Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

"We would be racing against the sun," said director David Slade (Hard Candy) of his extended month-long shoot of 30 Days Night in New Zealand's snowy South Island. The cast and crew would set up in the early evening as the sun would be dipping, and then would work hard to wrap the final frame before the first rays of dawn. Auckland stood in for the town of Barrow, Alaska, the northern most settlement of the United States which is, in reality, shrouded in complete darkness for a total of 55 days of the year. Based upon the hugely popular graphic novel written by Steve Niles, with artwork by Ben Templesmith, and produced by Spider-Man director Sam Raimi under his Ghost House Pictures banner, 30 Days of Night is an unsettling new take on the vampire legend.

Just before Barrow is plummeted into blackness, authorities discover a disturbing series of scenes: a pile of incinerated cell phones stolen from the townsfolk, a dismantled helicopter, and several teams of sled dogs that have been knifed to death. Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett), the town's sheriff, tries to make sense of the rash of incomprehensible crimes, but as the town plunges into the month-long night, it becomes apparent Barrow has been besieged by a feral pack of sun-shy vampires that go on a frenzied rampage of the isolated town. With a group of townsfolk, including his estranged wife Stella (played by Australian newcomer Melissa George), Eben goes into hiding as the bloody orgy rages on the streets of Barrow.

Director David Slade, stars Josh Hartnett and Melissa George, and producer Sam Raimi discuss coping with the hardships of the endless nights, snow whiteouts, and buckets of blood.

Josh Hartnett Melissa George David Slade Sam Raimi