Welcome to Barrow, Alaska. Sunrise is… a long way off…

Steve Niles’ and Ben Templesmith’s graphic novel is brought to fantastic undead life in David Slade’s 2007 movie, with the emphasis on the graphic. One of those movies that, if possible, you want to go into unspoiled the first time around (and it’s also definitely one that you’ll return to periodically), the terror builds unrelentingly as the truth becomes clear and there’s no end of consequences to deal with. At the time of release I was so impressed that I picked up the graphic novel and many of its successors and hoped for a proper sequel; it wasn’t to be.

This new edition is definitely clearer than previous (although there appears to be some controversy online over exactly what has been done in the restoration) and the 5.1 mix on the reviewed Blu-ray is very effective. Previous extras have been brought across, but where this version definitely scores is in the new material – new interviews with Slade, Niles, actor Mark Rendall and composer Brian Reitzell all add perspective (I’m relieved Reitzell upgraded from the laundry basket…).

Verdict: When a vampire thriller produces goosebumps on a day when it’s 32 degrees outside, its makers are definitely doing something right – and it all comes together very well here. 9/10

Paul Simpson