Near Dark

Rating:
Summary: This is considered one of the best vampire movies?!?
Review: Having always had a love of vampire films, and considering the lack of quality in the majority of vampire films released in the last few years, I started checking some Internet sites to see what movies other vampire fans recommended. More often than not, Near Dark made the lists so I decided to rent it since it sounded like it had an interesting and unique plot.

Unfortunately, the movie did not live up to the hype. While the plot was unique, it lacked depth. The characters were given shallow development and some parts of the story were just plain silly. There are two things about this movie that stand-out though. One is the great performance by Bill Paxton, he really knows how to play a villian and enjoy it. Second is the daytime gunfight at the motel which was really cleverly done. If you want a recent vampire movie that will blow your DVD player away, I recommend Blade II which was amazingly better than the first movie.

Rating:
Summary: Near Perfect!!!
Review: You may know Adrian Pasdar best from his work on the doomed Fox show "Profit," but he was never better than in NEAR DARK. Pasdar stars as Caleb, an attractive young farmer who meets a very special girl named Mae (Jenny Wright of ST ELMO'S FIRE). Caleb tries to keep Mae out all night... not realizing she absolutely has to be back before sunrise. No, it's not because her father might give her a whippin'. It's because she's a vampire. I know what you're thinking... "Not another vampire movie!!!" Well, this is not like any other vampire movie you've ever seen.

When Mae can't convince Caleb to drive her home, she bites him. As the sun begins to sear his flesh, Caleb begins to realize he is no longer human. ALIENS stars Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and Jennette Goldstein costar as a dysfunctional family of undead that travel together in a beat up mobile home. The story is simply told and stylishly directed by Kathryn Bigelow. I give it a 9 out of 10... making it NEAR PERFECT!

Rating:
Summary: Super movie, super dvd
Review: This is one of the best horror dvds released. The picture is great and the extras are super! The 47 minute documentary "Living in Darkness is worth the price of the dvd alone. Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikson are so funny talking about this movie, you just have to see this. The biographies are also really detailed, unlike most. If you like this movie, you just have to get this dvd. It is super.

Rating:
Summary: Near Dark
Review: One of the best vampire movies I have had the pleasure to watch. Even though it was low budget (around $5 million) The acting was superb, the special effects believable, and the camera work excellent. Katheryn Bigelow has a great future as a director and as a writer. Three of the cast members were in "Aliens" together and it showed in their interaction within this film. I recommend this film to anyone who likes the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Vamps, American Style
Review: If you're a horror fan looking for something unique or different, you'll definitely want to catch Kathryn Bigelow's NEAR DARK, the first truly modern American vampire story. While retaining all the cool elements of traditional vampire lore--the blood-drinking, longevity, aversion to the sun, and animosity towards mankind--the film avoids those aspects, such as fear of the Crucifix and holy water, which are merely religious symbols and seem to have little effect on the all-too-real evils that we face in the 21st Century. Gone, too, is the traditional European gothic setting. Instead, writer/director Bigelow and co-writer Eric Red place their American bloodsuckers in the gritty surrounds of the rural Midwestern and Southwestern United States. For the first time, horror fans are presented with the blue-collar undead, who sport cowboy hats, black-leather chaps, and spurs and who speak with southern drawls.

The basic story revolves around a naive southern farm boy who has been unwittingly lured into the crimson-colored nocturnal lifestyle by a blood-drinking cutie and thereby forced to leave his family and join the girl's troupe of undead "kin." Adrian Pasdar does a fine job as the farm boy, and Jenny Wright turns in an intriguing performance as the introspective and seductive cutie. But it is the other vamps who really steal the show. Bill Paxton chews the scenery--as always--playing a blood-sucking, leather-clad good-ol'-boy. Lance Henriksen is dead-on (excuse the pun) in his portrayal of the Johnny-Rebel patriarch of the "family," and gorgeous Jenette Goldstein is both sexy and creepy as Henriksen's matriarchal mate. In spite of their insatiable lust for human blood, this clan is so quirky and likable that you almost want to cheer for them to come out on top.

The film is technically beautiful, too. The cinematography is breathtakingly rich in detail and color, a rarity in horror flicks; the special effects, though sparse, are well executed and avoid the cheesiness common to many vampire flicks; and Bigelow's directing--this film marks her professional debut--is top-notch.

Kudos should also go to Anchor Bay for their excellent two-disc DVD release of NEAR DARK. The first disc contains a beautiful widescreen digital transfer and optional commentary soundtrack (commentary by Bigelow and Eric Red, if I remember correctly), and the second disc has tons of extras, not the least of which is an outstanding 45-minute documentary that includes interviews with the director and most of the stars.

Rating:
Summary: An great looking, stylish, horror drama film.
Review: When an young country southwest man by the name of Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) falls in love at first sight with an beautiful mysterious woman by the name of Mae (Jenny Wright), who accidentally bites him on the neck and becomes rapidly as a Vampire. When the woman, he's in love with, is a member of a band of outlaws (Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein & Joshua Miller), who takes care of eachother for Survival. Since Celeb is innocent, he's trapped in a soulless evil between them, trying to avoid thier lifestyle but Mae tires to teach him, the way of survival and the hunger of it.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Blue Steel, Strange Days, K-19:The Widowmaker) is an unusual modern take on Vampires, which is surprisingly clever, smart, dark with an sharp sense of humor.
Written by the Director:Bigelow and Eric Red (The Hitcher, Body Parts, Bad Moon) is a first-rate intelligent scripted movie, which is unexpectedly touching and sad in places. Believable Performances with Character Developments, makes this a Cult Classic seems to be better and better, everytime, you seen it. The film does slow down a bit at times but it's worth seeing. DVD's has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an excellent Digitally Remastered Soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (also in DTS and Dolby Surround) from the Original Ultra Stereo Sound. DVD's has great extras, including:An commentary track from the Director, 47 min Documentary of the Remembering-how was like making the film with the filmmakers and actors of the movie, traliers, storyboards, collector's booklet and more. Do not miss this rearly seen movie. This an excellent cinematography by Adam Greenberg (The Terminator Trilogy) and an fine music score by Tangerine Dream (Risky Business, Legend-U.S. Verison, Three O'Clock High). Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: What a pleasant surprise
Review: I'm always a bit cautious when one of my favorite movies from ye old days of video is re-released on DVD. All too often I've been disappointed in cut-rate transfers that don't even offer the luxury of letterbox, let alone any of the other extras that the jaded DVD buyer has come to expect. Needless to say I was damn suspicious when I heard that Near Dark was going to get the DVD treatment. After all, Near Dark isn't really a horror classic to the rest of the world, is it? With a wary eye I took the plunge because I was tired of trying to introduce unwitting visitors to the film with my over pixilated copy.

Maybe it was lack of expectations, but the latest DVD to get added to my collection oh-so-pleasantly surprised me. First off, it is beautifully packaged: two DVDs nestled among foldouts of characters and quotes, all resting in a lovely sleeve. Secondly, the movie itself was a treat to watch because it was the first time I had ever seen it in letterbox. Equally pleasantly was the way the film has held up over time, not becoming outdated the way so many horror films do.

Thirdly, let's talk about the extras. Oh yes, there are extras. A whole DVD of them; the original script, trailers, and the like. However, the real prize is the documentary that gives you more insight into the characters themselves, as well as the actors who played them. The most surprising factoids were how the film was cast. I am sure I'm not the only to wonder how so many members of the Aliens cast are in Near Dark.

Rating:
Summary: cousinpaco's top terrors: #6
Review: Take three of the cool marines from "Aliens," turn them into "children of the night," and set them loose in the Southwest.

That's the basic premise of "Near Dark," a great little movie that got overshadowed by "the Lost Boys."

Unlike any other vampire-horror flick, "Near Dark" abandons most of the "vleh! vleh!" goofiness we're all used to, instead establishing the characters as nocturnal nomads who will MESS YOU UP if you get in their way.

They gamble, smoke and stay up all night--an attractive lifestyle to the poor guy who gets mixed up with them. Unfortunately for him, he soon realizes the price he has to pay for such power and freedom...

The bar scene about halfway through is one of the most harrowing segments in film history.

The DVD outshines any beat-up VHS copy you might find, and you get some fairly insightful bonus features on Disc 2.

Rating:
Summary: Censored?
Review: I find it hard to believe that Anchor Bay would release a censored version of this classic, they always do such a great job. Can anyone else confirm or deny these comments?

In the past, Anchor Bay released a double disc of Halloween that contained both the original and the TV versions. The censoring the previous poster described sounds like the Swedish version. Is it possible that the set contains both versions and she simply watched the wrong disc?

I'd like to know what's going on before wasting my money. Anyway, great film, and at least I still have my VHS tape.

Rating:
Summary: The Vampire Film That Got "Lost"
Review: NEAR DARK had a lot going against it, when it was released in theaters, during the fall of 1987. It came out at the same time as another vampire themed movie, known as THE LOST BOYS, which had a major studio backing it, that used more money to promote it. Another problem was the fact that, there was an untried director, calling the shots, and an unknown male and female star as leads in the film... Yet, despite all of that, somehow this movie managed to find a small (but growing) audience. The film centers on what happens when country boy, Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) is lured by the lovely Mae, (Jenny Wright) into joining a pack of bloodthirsty vampires. All of this, as his family, tries to rescue him from a nightmare that wont end. The similarities to "Boys" are there, to be sure, but thanks to great casting and a solid script, with a few twists on vamp mythology, the movie is still better than most people think. Another plus for the film is that 3 actors from the ALIENS cast are reunited, (Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstien) this time playing the bad guys, who make Caleb's life a living hell

Anchor Bay Entertaiment has put together a nice 2 disc DVD set. Finally giving the film its due. Disc 1 has a good commentary track by director Katheryn Bigelow, a new DTS sound mix, and a THX mix as well. Disc 2's best extra is the 47 minute retrospective documentary, featuring cast and crew recollections about the film. There's also one deleted scene, theatrical trailers, storyboards, 2 still galleries, talent bios, and DVD-ROM content.

For a movie that nobody originally saw. NEAR DARK can finally be enjoyed by fans and newcomers alike The 2 DVD set is recommended with a **** star rating