Steven Niles is one of the most-searched writers these days, with the success of 30 Days of Night. Even though it took several years for the adaptation of the graphic novel to the big screen, Niles has, today, well-established himself and has several development deals in place. Steven Niles also has a production deal with Lionsgate Films with his own company called Raw Entertainment, co-owned with actor Thomas Jane.

Emmanuel Itier: What is your approach about vampires and what do they represent to you?

Steven Niles: Well, I really wanted to redefine what a vampire is, because I think lately, we just tamed them so much. I have always been interested in the power of seduction of vampires. But today, in TV shows or movies, they are un-scary. They are even your friend–your pet, even. There is even a vampire detective, and I think, “Enough is enough.” I don’t think vampires are romantic creatures, even though I understand where it comes from, with the fang and the neck. So I went back to the root of the legend of vampires, when they were really frightening creatures of the dark. My vampires don’t care about humans. They only care for humans because we are food to them. They look at us the same way we look at a cow for a good steak. I think it’s really scary to think of them like a predator. They are close to us and they are hunting us.

EI: Are they also for us to leave the politically correct and embrace our animal instincts?

SN: I think we are into PC to death. Everything has to be politically correct today, and this is very boring to me. It’s to the point where we’re just burying our heads in the sand. It’s all for the protection of our children. But when I was a kid, there was not that level of censorship, and I think I turned out to be fine. So I don’t see the point of this level of censorship today with everything. It’s almost to the point when a movie will get a rating R because one actor is smoking one cigarette in this film. It really upsets me. We are so worried about offending somebody, and on the contrary, I think it’s healthy to offend and tease each other a little bit. In general, in my writing, I have a tendency to not worry about being PC.

EI: What is the message of this film?

SN: In this one, the message is more about enjoyment. I want people to enjoy this movie like we used to enjoy old classic horror movies. I want you to get out of the theater with your heart pounding and all excited. I don’t want to disgust you like some of these terrible horror-torture movies like the Saw and Hostel pictures. I hate all of these horror/porn/torture movies. These are not horror movies to me. This one, 30 Days of Night, is how horror movies should be–fun and entertaining.

EI: What is your thought about the nature of evil? Does evil exist outside of our psyche?

SN: All you have to do is turn on the news and realize how deeply we live in a fear-based society. I can get deep into this, and I do believe in the nature of evil. Evil exists and fear is created–especially in the United States, where it’s promoted. If you look at the news, it’s all about promoting the ten more horrific stories every day in order to scare you–to keep you in line, to control you. Fear is used to control our minds for sure right now. The fear I like is the fantasy you can step away from. I fear the terrible things people are capable of doing to each other. Look at Darfur: this is true horror. This is evil at work right there.

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