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The word "vampire" is never mentioned in Near Dark, but that doesn't stop this 1987 cult favorite from being one of the best modern-era vampire films. It put then-unknown director Kathryn Bigelow on Hollywood's radar and gave choice roles to Aliens costars favored by Bigelow's ex-husband James Cameron: Lance Henriksen is the leader of a makeshift family of renegade bloodsuckers, nocturnally seeking victims in rural Oklahoma; his immortal gal pal is Aliens and Terminator 2 alumnus Jenette Goldstein; and Bill Paxton is the group's deadliest leather-clad ass kicker. Fellow traveler Jenny Wright lures Okie farm boy Adrian Pasdar into the group with a love bite, and he's soon turning toward vampirism with a combination of frightened revulsion and relentless desire. With Joshua Miller (River's Edge) as the youngest vampire, Near Dark is Bigelow's masterpiece of low-budget ingenuity--a truck-stop thriller that begins well, gets better and better (aided by a fine Tangerine Dream score), and goes out in a blaze of glory. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By unhappy
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A classic in the Vampire movies. The actors are noticed in more modern movies. I am glad to have it in my collection.
Format:DVD
Near Dark is one of those great movies that it seems no one has seen. I hope this deluxe DVD will change that.
Near Dark suffered in it's initial theatrical release due to it's resemblance to The Lost Boys. They share a storyline (Hapless young man falls for a girl who turns him into a Vampire, and he's forced to deal with her crazy running buddies.), and even a release date; Lost Boys blew Near Dark right out of theaters, but Near Dark found an appreciative audience on video, and deservedly so. The cast is uniformly great, especially Lance Henrikson and Bill Paxton as the lead Vamps. The script, by Director Kathryn and Eric Red, is perfect- we learn little tidbits about the history of the Vampires, but we're always kept at arms length from them. We see them as alien and threatening, and they see us a food. Bigelow does a great job, especially considering it was her solo directorial debut. The only gripe I had is the Vampirism "Cure" which seems like a Deus Ex Machina, but that's a small quibble. The Tangerine Dream score also made some scenes seem really cheesy...FAR from their best work. I think an orchestral score would have been much better, but budget constraints....
The 2-DVD set is beautifully packaged, with a die-cut inner package inside the box, and a great looking (and informative!) booklet. The film looks great; As usual, Anchor Bay does great work on their DVD transfers. It also has a commentary track from Director Bigelow, which is kinda dry and technical. Disc 2 has tons of storyboards, a weak deleted scene, a new 47-minute documentary, cast & crew bios (Very extensive!), still & ad galleries, and tons more.
Near Dark is one of those films that has flown under the radar for FAR too long, and I can't recommend it highly enough!
By Noctem
Format:DVD
Ah yes, Near Dark. This was the film that got buried by The Lost Boys. If you're tired of the Anne Rice school of fashionable and hip Euro vampires, then 1987's Near Dark will be a welcome surprise. The film is a refreshing take on one of horror's most over-used tales. The story is simple: Farm boy Caleb meets girl, Mae. Caleb falls for Mae. Mae (a vampire) bites Caleb. Caleb now must become a member of Mae`s nomadic vampire family, roaming the Midwest in stolen autos, hiding from the sun, and doing their murderous feeding at night. Perhaps the films standout element would be its sense realism, something most other vampire films lack. We learn of vampires and their ways through the viewpoint of Caleb as he becomes a member of the group. And the vampires themselves are re-imagined, in ways that make them real. Near Dark remains Kathryn Bigelow's best film, suffused with style and anarchy that has a true feel for the irregular pulse of a very particular place and time. It's a western in the Southern Gothic tradition in a way. The performances, often weak in horror films, are simply great, with Paxton and Henriksen shining brightest. The atmospheric score by Tangerine Dream is perfect. In the end, Near Dark stands as one of the best vampire films in the last 25 years. It's great to finally have this on DVD.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Listen to the night
Katherine Bigelow reportedly wanted to create an old-fashioned Western movie... mixed with a vampire romance. The result was something that could have been a disaster. Read more
Published on Jun 6 2009 by E. A Solinas
5.0 out of 5 stars
a new perspective
I must strongly recommend this film. I can easily overlook a few minor storyline problems because the premise of this film is absolutely intriguing - the transition from humanity... Read more
Published on July 15 2004 by PSM/Bokor
5.0 out of 5 stars
An underrated classic of the 80's!
Somewhere in the southwestern heart of America, a young man named Caleb ( played by Adrian Pasdar) falls for a gorgeous young woman ( played by Jenny Jones) who leads her into her... Read more
Published on July 13 2004 by John Lindsey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely a Classic
Man, I remember watching this movie when I was like 6 or 7 years old and I thought it was great. I Had forgotten all about it until my dad mentioned, the other day, about the... Read more
Published on July 10 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
"He's Been Bit But He Ain't Been Bled..."
"Near Dark" is one of those obscure cult movies that was overshadowed by a bigger budget, better looking cast, & special effects - the likes of the blockbuster film... Read more
Published on July 7 2004 by Sheila Chilcote-Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finger-licking good!
Near Dark, the most underrated vampire film of all time, is also, in my opinion, THE greatest vampire film of all time. Everything about this movie is perfect. Read more
Published on May 23 2004 by Fabiola
1.0 out of 5 stars
TERRIBLE!!!!
I just watched this movie and felt compelled to write a review to save someone from WASTING 1 hour and 1/2 of their time. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. Read more
Published on April 30 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Near Perfect and Finger Licking Good.
Before Kathryn Bigelow got hitched to James Cameron, she was making films that you would swear where by the hand of her future hubby. Read more
Published on Mar 10 2004 by OverTheMoon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent fun
"Near Dark" has only two flaws:
(1) Joshua Miller, the bratty kid you wanted to slap in the face in "River's Edge", plays a bratty vampire, and you want to... Read more
(1) Joshua Miller, the bratty kid you wanted to slap in the face in "River's Edge", plays a bratty vampire, and you want to... Read more
Published on Feb 29 2004
2.0 out of 5 stars
This is bad, at best
If you liked 28 Days Later or From Dusk till Dawn, then... do yourself a favor and don't watch this movie.
Published on Feb 25 2004 by Louis-Martin
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