"I’d like to think that '30 Days of Night' is beyond horror. It’s with vampires. It’s exaggerated horror which is fantastic."
Melissa George has tackled a wide variety of genres during her illustrious career but when it comes to horror films - specifically a vampire film - this is one type of movie she is proud to have added to her repertoire. The Australian beauty stars in David Slade’s big screen adaptation of the Steve Niles graphic novel, “30 Days of Night,” opening in theaters this Friday. “30 Days of Night” is set in the isolated town of Barrow, Alaska where sunlight is all but gone for 30 days during the winter. Upon the first 24 hours of the month-long nightfall, a strange disturbance finds its way into this quaint town and it becomes a race for survival as an estranged couple, Eben and Stella Oleson (Josh Hartnett and Melissa George), fight to keep themselves and loved ones alive.
We spoke to Melissa recently at a press day in New York City about “30 Days of Night,” vampire films and working with co-stars Josh Hartnett and Ben Foster.
Q: You’re certainly no stranger to the horror genre, having done “The Amityville Horror” remake and “Turistas” recently…
MELISSA: Well, I’d like to think that “30 Days of Night” is beyond horror. It’s with vampires. It’s exaggerated horror which is fantastic. With “The Amityville Horror,” it’s based on a true story and a good character piece I felt. That was a few years ago. In between, I’ve been doing a little of comedy, a little of drama and this came along with [producer] Sam Raimi, David Slade and Josh Hartnett so it was hard to turn it down. I’m a fan of the graphic novel world and I really wanted to be a part of a vampire film. This outbeats a lot of them!
Q: Did you read the graphic novel before shooting?
MELISSA: I did not. I read it after [shooting] and I was wishing it would look exactly like the graphic novel with the colors. You’ve seen the film, this isn’t your average vampire film so I’m glad they made the movie look exactly like the graphic novel.
Q: Was that the first graphic novel you’ve ever read?
MELISSA: I’ve read others in the past for other movies I tried to get. I would get the graphic novel. I can’t think which ones they were. But I don’t collect them.
Q: Why do you think that people are fascinated with vampires and the vampire mythology?
MELISSA: It’s other-worldly. I think there’s a fascination with that. Everyone’s seen “Nosferatu” and all sorts of other vampire films. It’s very curious to see a vampire film because it doesn’t play on something that can happen to you in real life, like “The Amityville Horror” for example.
Q: Was it difficult having to shoot at night?
MELISSA: It was difficult coming home at seven in the morning with blood on your neck and then going out for coffee in the morning. The amount of times I went out for an early morning breakfast and had blood on my neck and hands…I just went, oh my gosh.
Q: Your character is a bit tougher than most women in horror films. Was that part of the appeal?
MELISSA: Yeah, I like dynamic tough roles. Going back to the horror thing, in Hollywood, you often get the pretty little wife that doesn’t say much. These roles tend to be really strong women, either as the hero in the end or whatever. I enjoyed playing these strong characters.
Q: For most of the film, you’re acting opposite these actors playing vampires who are making extremely strange and eerie noises. What was that like?
MELISSA: I just got chills thinking about it. They did this sound that they invented. They made up their own language which took months. They had classes and they would [make noises] and I was like, “What the hell are they saying?” Then, they would do this sound where they would breathe in with a screeching inward so I don’t know how they did that. It was spectacular to watch them create this inner dialogue and the sound they came up with.
Q: Can you talk about your co-stars, Ben Foster and Josh Hartnett?
MELISSA: I love watching Ben Foster work. He gets into it for real. I think he filled his clothes with ice to feel cold. I think it’s a rumor. You should ask him.
With Josh, he’s probably the most intelligent actor I’ve ever worked with. He’s a deep thinker and really loves the rehearsal process. He’s a gentleman and I can’t say enough good things about him. I’ve worked with Clive Owen, He’s a young handsome man but he does not act like a handsome Hollywood heartthrob. He’s all about the craft. He’s all about picking alternative roles. He’s interested in going to work and telling a beautiful story.
Q: Your character is prominently featured in the sequels to the novel. Would you be interested in returning?
MELISSA: Absolutely. I want to get a mohawk and get paid for it. Really, I’ve always wanted to get a mohawk and get paid for it!
Q: You’ve done a lot of different genres over the past several years. Is that a conscious choice to mix it up or are you not conscious of that?
MELISSA: I never pick a script by genre, ever, because if you start doing that, you’re going to be a mess. Jim Carrey didn’t pick 25 comedies in a row and said, “You know what? I’m not doing another comedy because it’s the same genre.” You look within it and see what the character is and I always want to do a service for women. I don’t want to come out like the weak thing on the floor where their clothes are on the floor and they’ve been eaten alive. I want to pick roles that are strong and in the case of horror films, you look beyond that and there’s a lot more in that.
"30 Days of Night" opens in theaters October 19.