Near Dark Reviews

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this movie but since I have a weak spot for Kathryn Bigelow's work, I was quite eager to check it out. Well, even though this movie has become a cult classic following its release, I actually had a hard time to really care about the damned thing. I mean, the beginning was not bad and they managed to deliver a nice mood with a nice soundtrack but, from the moment that Caleb turned into a vampire, it became just way too pedestrian for me. Sure,  it was still watchable but, in my opinion, Bigelow didn't add anything really new or interesting to the genre. In fact, the biggest issue I had was with the 3rd act which turned out to be even more tedious. Basically, somehow, out of completely nowhere, the main character managed to find a cure against vampirism and I couldn't believe how ridiculously simple this cure was. On top of that, one of the most interesting trademarks about vampires is the fact that they are doomed to live forever and I think it was a huge mistake to remove this element, especially in such a lame way. Anyway, to conclude, even though this movie didn't really work for me, I still think it is worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

I'm in the mood for an old school vampire flick with some great actors. Oh did you say check out Near Dark? Sure don't mind if I do. I can't believe this is the directorial debut of Kathryn Bigelow. This is what boosted her into a career that produced Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker. It should be quite interesting to see what she started with. Eric Red who writes here is also known for a few other well known horror movies. Although they aren't considered all that great. Anyways let's see how this goes.

So that was pretty corny. It does feel slightly like The Lost Boys scenario though obviously that was better than this. Still it had three really great moments in my opinion. The bar massacre was pretty wicked. I have to say I don't think you see someone use a spur like that very often. The shootout scene was pretty cool too. It was fairly intense. Then the finale was good as well especially with Severen. A lot of feels a bit too much like a romance. It's kind of like something you see in a Nicholas Sparks movie with how fast they fall for each other. I did think it was interesting that they never flat out say they are vampires. Anyways it's still likable, but I could understand if people didn't enjoy it.

Adrian Pasdar was kind of annoying here. His character was such a wuss at times and his acting didn't seem all that great. I just really couldn't stand him. Jenny Wright was cute but not smoking. She was a bit lackluster as well. I couldn't tell if her acting was off or if her character just wasn't all that interesting. Homer was an amusing little character. I liked the idea that he was old in a kids body. So whenever he was smoking or they made a comment about his age I thought it was cool. Jenette Goldstein as Diamondback is just awesome. I think the actress is a badass especially after watching Aliens of course. Here she isn't quite as cool, but she still has some great moments. Plus I have to admit she does come off as attractive. Maybe it's the hair. Lance Henriksen is always great when he plays a villain. He doesn't do a whole lot here, but when he does he makes his presence known. The gun over the arm shooting thing seems to be a slight trademark of his as I remember seeing that in Hard Target as well. Lastly there is Bill Paxton as Severen. He is absolutely wicked and definitely the coolest here. He is funny, crazy, and extremely brutal. He also makes for the most gruesome bits here.

It can be quite corny and sappy for a lot of the runtime. The brutal moments do make up for it to some extent. There are bits that were pretty original. Then there is familiarity which I was fine with as well. The mains were a little disappointing, but the other vampires were great. Bill Paxton was my favorite here. I just don't see how he couldn't be a favorite for most. Anyways it's an interesting vampire movie. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you should give a try.

Ferocious thoroughly tough and testosterone-loaded vampire-modern cowboy top-notch adrenaline-fuelled pulse-pounder action hard-edged, violent movie!
From beginning to end, Caleb (Adrian Pasdar as a James Dean-type ) is always all cowboyed out with boots with rowel spurs, hat, cigarette, and manly stud attitude.
Young cowboy Caleb is the male predator till he find Severen, a careless, ruthless biker/cowboy who becomes the dominant alpha (even more than Henriksen), full of sexy, cocksure swagger. Bill Paxton plays Severen, a guy that really enjoys killing other guys for the sheer pleasure of killing, he lives for the love of carnage and the endless feast of total destruction. Caleb is suddenly lusting for male victims' blood. So, Bill Paxton drags him into a roadside biker bar, picks a fight, and demands that his target hit Caleb instead. When the guy does, Bill Paxton wipes blood of Caleb's face and licks it off his fingers in obvious sexual innuendo. Taken by lust and adrenaline, he kills many patrons around to impress Caleb - Severen delights in slaughtering the redneck cowboys at the bar and you can tell Bill Paxton is loving every minute of it as well,how horny he is while using boot spurs to slit a man´s throat!... Later, impressed with Caleb stamina, Paxton gonna give him one of his spurs, like a cavalry stud receiving his manly battle spur of honor. The biker bar massacre is an incredibly violent scene, oozing visceral gore and a graphic violence and bloodshed as never seen before and deserve more details…The best scene is by far the bar slaughter with that Severens' spur to the neck slaughter. It’s a classic : Bill Paxton slicing necks with the spurs of his boots in the bar, in a very rugged and gritty western way. He is a killer of man, pure and raw, and breathing testosterone. The slaughter in the bar show Paxton in the most swift brutality against all those virile studs around in a twisted sort of way. Many of them wearing long coats and dusters and with spurs at the heels of their boots too. The murders and the slain ones are both sadistic and gruesome! Always showing a perverse bloody sensuality, always showing bloodsucking as a sexual climax action, the movie reach unrestrained and rampant orgasmic climax.

An underestimated vampire movie. Great soundtrack.

The best thing about this film (and it Must have been intentional) is that there is no mention of the word 'Vampire' on the box, or in the movie.

The entire genre of suave, sophisticated vampires drinking blood from a wine glass while listning to Handel with their pinky fingers extended was boring by the time someone got done describing it to me. Near Dark is a more gritty, realistic movie, which makes it far more frightening than anything Anne Rice could concieve. The film and its effects are a bit dated, but it does a great job of balancing a road movie with a love story with the story of a vampire tribe on the move, constantly hiding from the sun.

The soundtrack by Tangerine Dream is hit-and-miss, and needs to be heard to be understood, it really cant be described with the limiting words of the English Language.

I did find it strange how the sun rises and sets so quickly down there in the South :)

-Conrad Zero