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Near Dark [1988]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The word "vampire" is never mentioned in Near Dark, but that doesn't stop this 1987 cult favourite 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 favoured 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 T2 alumnus Jenette Goldstein; and Bill Paxton is the group's deadliest leather-clad ass kicker. Fellow traveller 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 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


A moving story of loyalty and depair
Review date: 2008-02-27 Rating: 8 out of 10

A different kind of vampire film, it shares very little reference to what most of us would associate with the genre. Almost immediatly it deals with being bitten and how Caleb copes with this. His relasionship with Mae, the one who turns him, and how he becomes dependant on her. There relasionship is very much a sexual one, through the expressions and ways they interact you can see this is the connection between them. The others in her group are not very welcoming to him but give him a chance to prove himself, by killing/feeding. The cast are great, Bill Paxton especially so. He steals every scene he is in as the wild one of the gang. Lance Henriksson is very menacing as the leader and the others, notably the young boy (who is 700yrs old), are also very good. Never wanting to give to much away to those who have not seen it, i will leave it there.

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Reviews


A dark jewel with a drop of blood inside...
Review date: 2007-06-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is how beautiful this little horror movie is. It is very dark - which is only normal considering that the heroes have a tendancy to burn if exposed to sunlight - quite violent but also very touchy. The movie shows the world from the vampire perspective and does it REAL good. And this is not a nice vision. In fact the travelling "family" of vampires are living a hell in which the only consolation is the strong affectional link uniting them. And still, even in this horrible existence of murder and suffering there are some moments of quite joy - and then, damnation can also have a sweet taste. This is quite a movie. Well done, coherent, with smart dialogues, great acting and good camera work. No wonder that Kathryn Bigelow was launched by its success. And then there is the amazing Lance Henriksen....

PRAY FOR DAYLIGHT
Review date: 2007-03-12 Rating: 8 out of 10

I had bought this in a box set called BOX OF BLOOD and I was looking forward to watching it because my friend had been telling me how good it was and that I should buy it right away and I was missing out on a classic - so last night I put it on and watched it in bed and I found that I really enjoyed it and that I was missing out on a classic. The word vampires is never mentioned at all through the entire film which was surprising because normally the word vampires is mentioned in films like this.

In the dusty heart of the American southwest, innocent country boy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar of MYSTERIOUS WAYS) is seduced by a beautiful girl (Jenny Wright) into joining a roving pack of vicious drifters led by the enigmatic Jessie (Lance Henriksen of THE TERMINATOR and ALIENS). But this is no ordinary band of outlaws; Caleb is now trapped in a nightmare of soulless evil that waits in the shadows, hellish mayhem that thrives on blood and absolute horror that begins NEAR DARK.

Bill Paxton (TWISTER) and Janette Goldstein (ALIENS) co - star in this extraordinary shocker co - written and directed by Kathryn Bigelow (STRANGE DAYS).

The version I have has no special features on it so its just the film but what a film it is - its violent and that is why its rated an 18 certificate, its a shame that this film got over looked by THE LOST BOYS on its release because its a good film in its own right. I'm not going to slate THE LOST BOYS because thats another good vampire film in its own right and I enjoyed both.

I'm going to finish off now by saying if you are a horror film buff then you can do a lot worse then this, Lance Henrikson & Bill Paxon are brilliant in their roles and just enjoy one of the best vampire films out.

Thank you for reading my review.

Are you an 80's child?
Review date: 2006-04-24 Rating: 6 out of 10

If you're not I'd re-think buying this movie as I feel the high rating it achieved is from people that watched this the 1st time round which always makes a film seem a lot better than it is. I never saw this version back in the 80's but I have seen lost boys. This one is definately more gory than the lost boys but fails as it seems so rushed. The thing is you cant really compare the two as they were both trying to target a different audience. You dont really know too much about these characters and why the main character instantly falls in love with a girl he's briefly seen and shared a short car journey with. You also end up wondering about the ending as it seems as if this was rushed as well. I cant really go into too much detail without giving a lot of the ending away but suffice to say it didnt seem that it would work the way they did it. It is an 80's film as well so be prepared for some cheesy music scores and a few cheesy lines. It portrayed vampires in a more believable way though, as evil killers who really have no fear of anyone or anything and kill without any emotion and almost toy with their food like a cat would. This is a far better portrayal than most of the vampire films I have seen as at the end of the day we are supposed to be their food and they are immortal so you can believe that vampires would be more like this film. It was just too short with quite a few holes in the script but it was watchable but I doubt I would revisit it anytime soon.

better than overrated, hollywoodish "lost boys".....
Review date: 2006-02-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

anyone who thinks "lost boys" is the best vamp film they have seen obviously hasn't seen the better......MUCH BETTER "near dark" movie. despite the fact of being a b-movie and an independent project, this is what "lost boys" should have been and wasn't......AND NEVER WILL BE!!!!!!!!
near dark----acting, direction, writing, cinematography......
all top of the line. it shows what you could do WITHOUT billions of dollars/bloated visual effects/well known stars...and still churn out a classic film only hollywood wishes it can make!!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Bill Paxton
Lance Henriksen
Jenny Wright
Adrian Pasdar
Jenette Goldstein

Creators:
Adrian Pasdar (Primary Contributor)
Jenny Wright (Primary Contributor)
Kathryn Bigelow (Writer)
Charles R. Meeker (Producer)
Diane Nabatoff (Producer)
Edward S. Feldman (Producer)
Eric Red (Producer)
Eric Red (Writer)
Mark Allan (Producer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay Entertainment
EAN: 5060020621581
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-08-25
Number of discs: 2
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1987-10-02
Language: English (Original Language)

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