Quin GootNear Dark (1987)
January 28th 2009 06:46
Director:- Kathryn Bigelow.
Starring:- Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen.
Vampires. Yes, these creatures have held a fascination for me for as long as I can remember. So I guess you could say it was only a matter of time before I would cross paths with Kathryn Bigelow's solo directorial debut, Near Dark. However, unlike many other films of its genre, this one manages to carry its own unique style into the bloodsucking arena.
Originally intended to be a western, Near Dark was transformed into a horror due to a waning popularity (at the time) in the aforementioned genre. The result is a spur kicking, bar busting blood fest. Add a fairly heavy dosage of 80's keyboard synth, and you are well on your way to producing a unique horror flick. The frequent use of synthesizer here for music/effects drew me in from the first, creating an eerily retro atmosphere. Dum baaow waowww.
The film introduces Caleb, who, in trying to seduce Mae (a young vampire), ends up being bitten. Now faced with an eternity of new habits, Caleb reluctantly joins Mae's fiendish vampire family, who's main pastime consists of feasting on humans and avoiding sunlight. Not without humour, Near Dark delivers Caleb's first words to Mae, "can I have a bite, I'm just dying for a cone", to which she replies "bite"? "dying"? Which of course is then followed by a burst of 80's synth music.
The mood falls a little darker within Mae's vicious family, which comprises of 'Aliens' (1986) team Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstein, as well as the precocious Joshua Miller. Bill Paxton is brilliant as the fun lovin, hoot scootin sadistic vampire, stealing the show in the gruesome bar scene, giving the film a harder edge. The quiet space in between carnage here is eerie, clearly effecting terror among the patrons.
Special effects throughout are kept to a minimum, helping portray the vampires as evil bloodthirsty killers rather than ambivalent minded acrobats (as if often the case). Longer takes and dry wilderness backdrops also add realism to the film, all resulting in a grittier, seemingly more realistic portrayal.
Adding style to the film is the absence of the word vampire, which leaves us to our own ideas about these bloodsucking creatures. And whilst fans of the more ostentatious vampire may be disappointed here, the stylish depiction, good performances and definitive 80's soundtrack make this experience time well spent.
Three and a half bananas out of five.
Starring:- Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen.
Vampires. Yes, these creatures have held a fascination for me for as long as I can remember. So I guess you could say it was only a matter of time before I would cross paths with Kathryn Bigelow's solo directorial debut, Near Dark. However, unlike many other films of its genre, this one manages to carry its own unique style into the bloodsucking arena.
The film introduces Caleb, who, in trying to seduce Mae (a young vampire), ends up being bitten. Now faced with an eternity of new habits, Caleb reluctantly joins Mae's fiendish vampire family, who's main pastime consists of feasting on humans and avoiding sunlight. Not without humour, Near Dark delivers Caleb's first words to Mae, "can I have a bite, I'm just dying for a cone", to which she replies "bite"? "dying"? Which of course is then followed by a burst of 80's synth music.
Special effects throughout are kept to a minimum, helping portray the vampires as evil bloodthirsty killers rather than ambivalent minded acrobats (as if often the case). Longer takes and dry wilderness backdrops also add realism to the film, all resulting in a grittier, seemingly more realistic portrayal.
Adding style to the film is the absence of the word vampire, which leaves us to our own ideas about these bloodsucking creatures. And whilst fans of the more ostentatious vampire may be disappointed here, the stylish depiction, good performances and definitive 80's soundtrack make this experience time well spent.
Three and a half bananas out of five.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Quin Goot
Cinema Banana
No I don't own the DVD, although reading your comments makes me want to watch this one over again. Yes there has been quite a bit of talk about this as a cult film. I thought it really enjoyable, but not great, and I couldn't help but feel it was a tad dated.
I thought Kathryn Bigelow did a good job though, and I see that she did some interesting work after this one. The extras sounded interesting, makes me feel I should visit this one over!