30 Days of Night: Dark Days Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "30 Days of Night: Dark Days" stands as a commendable if not impeccable 1080p transfer in its natural widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Bearing the hallmarks of mid-budget DTV production, the film is shot with an HD camera, providing excellent detail in facial close-ups and longer shots. The video retains a clean and clear image, notably free from digital artifacts like noise or edge enhancement. The color palette leans heavily on golden browns, clinical greens, and blues, with occasional vibrant tones. These choices enrich the stylistic direction and offer a visually engaging but slightly gritty texture. Shadow delineation remains strong, with deep black levels contributing to effective night sequences, although some minor dips in sharpness can be observed. This results in a transfer that, while competent and stylish, sometimes feels equivalent to a high-quality TV episode.

The visual style, characterized by darker and more muted tones, aptly supports the film's narrative atmosphere. While clarity is steady, the presentation often feels flat and less visually appealing than blockbusters sourced from pristine 35mm film prints. The natural color spectrum reproduction is commendable, albeit the chosen palette leans towards a cold, gray tone interspersed with earthen browns. This thematic coloring extends to flesh tones as well, maintaining visual consistency. Black levels are generally good, though they occasionally lack precision, sometimes resulting in slight banding and obscuring foreground details. This transfer also reveals fine grain that lends texture without becoming intrusive.

Overall, while this Blu-ray transfer may not ascend to the level of top-tier cinematic presentations, it proficiently adheres to the film's grittier, stylistically dark visual intentions. The balance between stable contrast and nuanced shadow detail creates an appreciably textured viewing experience fitting for the movie’s tone, albeit with visible limitations reflective of its budget and direct-to-video origin.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix for "30 Days of Night: Dark Days" presents an atmospheric and intricate soundscape that, while not flawless, suits the material well. Dialogue is largely clear and coherent, though a few quieter moments can come across as slightly muffled. The sound effects—ranging from gunshots to visceral vampire screams—are impactful and dominate the front channels, with occasional but effective rear channel activity contributing to a sense of immersion. The score by Andres Boulton is broody and menacing, fitting the film's dark ambiance, although it tends to be front-heavy and doesn’t fully utilize the surround channels.

Dynamic range is commendable, with ample low-frequency effects that add depth to the music and action sequences. The mix features a comfortably spacious feel, despite some occasional harshness in certain elements which seem intentional to heighten tension. Ambient sounds like dripping water in dark corridors are accurately rendered, enhancing the overall eerie atmosphere. The sound field comes alive where appropriate, ensuring that moments of action and suspense are engaging. While the mix is generally effective, it lacks the finesse required to be truly outstanding and occasionally feels overwhelming.

In summary, Sony’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix delivers a solid audio experience with clear dialogue, potent effects, and an appropriately menacing score. Despite some limitations in its surround sound utilization and occasional harshness, it remains a robust and involving mix that complements the film’s dark themes, making it suitable for this specific Blu-ray release.

The Blu-ray release of "30 Days of Night: Dark Days" offers a solid array of extras for fans. The audio commentary featuring co-writer/director Ben Ketai and producer J.R. Young is insightful as they delve into the continuity from the first film, shooting techniques, budget constraints, and adherence to the graphic novel’s narrative. However, some remarks feel amateurish. The "Graphic Inspirations: Comic to Film" featurette allows an interactive comparison between the graphic novel and film, enhanced with brief interviews offering production insights. "The Gritty Realism of Dark Days" is a 10-minute featurette that, despite the exaggerated title, provides behind-the-scenes looks, cast interviews, and details on adapting the graphic content to screen. The disc also includes a range of trailers, BD-Live functionality, and a bonus DVD.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insights and background information from writer/director Ben Ketai and producer J.R. Young.
• Graphic Inspirations: Comic to Film: Interactive feature comparing the novel to the film.
• The Gritty Realism of Dark Days: Behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew discussions.
• Previews: Trailers for several films and shows.
• BD-Live enabled: Access to additional online content.
• Bonus DVD: Additional copy of "30 Days of Night: Dark Days".

"30 Days of Night: Dark Days" serves as a direct-to-video (DTV) sequel to the original "30 Days of Night," with a storyline that follows the events of the graphic novel in a somewhat economical manner. The production attempts to wrangle a palatable narrative with limited resources, featuring some commendable work from the cast and moderate special effects. The plot is simple yet functional; Stella (Kiele Sanchez), mourning her husband and seeking vengeance, joins a group of vampire hunters to defeat the vampire queen Lilith. Despite being handicapped by lower production values compared to its predecessor, this DTV installment delivers a modestly watchable experience for fans of the genre.

However, any hopes for a sequel that replicates the intensity and innovation of the original are quickly dashed. The film feels weighed down by its predictable genre tropes, shallow characters, and lackluster action sequences. The dialogue often borders on cliche and fails to bring any depth to the characters, turning potentially thrilling scenes into mediocrity. The overall experience is further marred by subpar special effects and low-budget production values, which make the film feel like an obligation rather than an inspired continuation.

"30 Days of Night: Dark Days" attempts to maintain the theme of relentless, bloodthirsty vampires but falters in execution. Though it pulls from source material crafted by Steve Niles, the story is disjointed and lacks the coherent flow seen in its predecessor. While there's no shortage of gore, the movie misses out on generating any significant suspense or excitement. Ultimately, it stands as a forgettable entry that underscores the challenges of DTV sequels living up to their theatrical originals.

"30 Days of Night: Dark Days," the direct-to-video sequel to the original film, presents a mixed bag for fans and newcomers alike. The Blu-ray release delivers good video quality by direct-to-video standards, capturing the dark, grim atmosphere effectively. While the visuals benefit from strong vampire makeup and notable gore effects, including a particularly graphic scene involving a cinder block, the overall production values fall short. Set design and action sequences are lackluster, and the film's script and acting are well below the bar set by the original.

Technically, the audio performance is decent but unremarkable, offering clear dialogue and serviceable sound effects that fail to elevate the viewing experience. The Blu-ray's extra features are a nice addition for those invested in the franchise, providing some behind-the-scenes content and fan service that may justify a rental for die-hard fans. However, these bonuses are not substantial enough to compensate for the film's numerous shortcomings.

Overall, the sequel struggles to capture the intensity and thrill of its predecessor. While it stays true to the franchise's thematic elements, it lacks the original's wit and visual flair. Despite a few redeeming moments, "30 Days of Night: Dark Days" ultimately feels like a forgettable entry into the vampire genre. Fans of the original may find some enjoyment if they manage their expectations, but it's hard to recommend this sequel to anyone else.

Conclusion: On Region Free UK Blu-ray, "30 Days of Night: Dark Days" offers very good video considering the material and perfectly decent audio, along with an agreeable selection of extras for fans. Those who liked the original will probably – if reasonably open-minded – quite enjoy this DTV sequel. It’s not amazing, but it is faithful to the franchise and perfectly enjoyable for its duration. Hell, it even leaves you hoping for more, which surely can’t be a bad thing! Worth a rental.