Comic book author Steve Niles is probably best known for his popular vampire series 30 Days of Night, and he also wrote the screenplay for the subsequent movie adaptation. “It’s a pretty damn relentless film,” he tells Total Sci-Fi.

30 Days of Night started life as a film pitch. How close is the finished film to how you originally envisioned it?

I came up with the idea around 1993-94. I didn’t even pitch the idea until 1999. I think originally I envisioned the film as a grisly, nihilistic, horror movie about vampires as eating machines so…wait…yes, it was close!

Actually the original idea was just a small Alaskan town that gets attacked by vampires, and then I added the characters and the vampire mythology. This all happened in 2001 when I began developing it as a comic, and Ben Templemith added all of the amazing imagery which is as integral as any story element.

The original idea changed a lot when David Slade took it and added his vision. Lucky for me and Ben, Slade was a fan and GOT IT. I guess the answer is that it’s nothing like it first started out, but I couldn’t be happier where it wound up.

Have you been - or would you dare to go - to Barrow, Alaska and stay there during the 30 days of night?

I’d bring an axe, you know, just in case.

Of all the vampire characters in the original 30 Days of Night trilogy, which did you most enjoy creating and why?

I have to say Stella, because she was the most unexpected character. Originally she was scripted as "the Sheriff’s wife" but then her part grew and she became a deputy and partners with her husband. As readers of the series know, following the events of 30 Days of Night, Stella takes over the series.

Do you think David Slade has captured the ambience of your graphic novel for the movie?

In ways I never expected, or even thought possible. I knew the story elements could be layered in, but the visual style, Ben’s art, was so well represented. I was amazed at how Slade managed to capture actual panels from the comic and turn them into frames of the film. It’s a very beautiful horror film. There really aren’t many you can say that about.

At which point during the film's development did you decide to lose the LA side-story from the graphic novel and why?

[Producer] Sam Raimi wanted that gone from Day One and I agreed with his reasons. He wanted to keep the audience in Barrow, so they are trapped like the characters. It made good sense. I think because of that, and Slade’s vision, it’s a pretty damn relentless film. There aren’t many breaks for air.

There was also another subplot in which the vampire hierarchy were unhappy with the attack on Barrow, which led to Vincente heading to the town and killing Marlow as punishment (it was then Vincente who faces off with Eben). Why was this changed for the movie?

The main reason we lost that was because nobody except me and David (and a few others) didn’t want to "confuse" the audience by having one villain half way and then another for the rest. People said it’s never been done. Personally I thought that’s why they should have done it. Do something people haven’t seen!

Luckily Danny Huston, who I owe a great debt, read the graphic novel, enjoyed it and worked in the concept of hiding behind the myth of the vampire into the scene before the fire. I think Danny really tried to amalgamate Marlow and Vicente. He was incredible in the film.

Have plans begun for developing a Dark Days film? Who might return for the sequel and how would things differ to the graphic novel?

I wish I had some news, but so far I have heard nothing. As I write this, the DVD has hit the US shelves for exactly five days. It seems to be flying off the shelves, so I hope we’ll hear something soon. I would love to see Dark Days made next. It would be an interesting challenge to match it to the tone…but I have lots of ideas.

Of all the spin-off tales by other writers/artists in the 30 Days universe, which have you enjoyed the most and why?

I’ve been happy with most of them, but the one I love is ‘Eben & Stella’ by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Justin Randal. It looked and felt like a 30 Days book. I got writing credit but it was all Kelly Sue and Justin. They did a great job.

Beyond Barrow is your latest entry in the series. What’s next for the mythology after this tale, or are you closing the door on the franchise for a while?

I think there are seven or eight 30 Days of Night graphic novels, three prose novels and a movie. I have a solo Eben story I want to do, but I think we’re going to wait awhile. I want to spend some time on some new material.

Did you ever see the Swedish vampire movie Frostbitten (aka Frostbite)? There seemed to be a 30 Days of Night influence running through that film…

I read the back of the DVD case and it said something like "Thirty Days of Terror!" and put it down. Some a-hole once said "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." I’m guessing the makers of that film are extremely sincere.

Finally, did you get to keep any souvenir fangs from the movie?

No, but I did get one of the axes and Kitka’s shoulder patch he wore when he was decapitated. It’s a TAD bloody.

30 Days of Night will be released on DVD (region 2) by Icon Home Entertainment on Monday 14th April 2008.