Rating: 
Summary: Don't Even Netflix It
Review: _Lost Boys_ didn't steal the thunder from this movie in 1987. This movie didn't have any thunder. Much as I like Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and even Jenette Goldstein, this movie has little acting, no plot, and nothing else to sustain it. This is a fine example of movies that are made because there's money to make them, and nothing else. Bigelow's _Strange Days_ was okay; perhaps because she didn't write it. I hate to say this, but even _Queen Of The Damned_ was better than this.
Rating: 
Summary: Great under rated vampire movie.
Review: I remember absolutely loving this film when i was about 10 years old. I recently saw it again, about 14 years later, and it is still great, despite losing a little of its flavor.
This is a very original vampire movie, and is wonderfully filmed, but has a few shortcomings.
Caleb seemed like a pushy pervert in his first night out with Mae and their romance seemed to just form up out of the blue. Same thing with transfusions. It takes about 2 minutes of the whole movie and seemed overly rushed.
And little Homer, ugh what an annoying kid. No wonder i dont remember seeing him in other movies...
And the ending is a bit anti climatic considering how these hundred year old vampires die. I thought they would be a bit smarter and have more common sense being alive that long...
But where the movie really shines is with Bill Paxton. His character, Severn, steals the whole show. The S**t kicker slaughter is truly a memorable scene and shows Paxton at his finest.
All in all this is a great little movie from the 80's which few know about. It is definitely a worthy edition to anyones dvd collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Deserved of cult status.
Review: For a 1980s film this has aged like fine wine (apparently - I drink mine too fast to know) as well as being - gasp - a feminist horror film! Near Dark is the kind of indie, low budget film that transcends those limitations with inventive direction, powerful acting, great use of location which inevitably sucks (groan) you completely into what is, in essence, a coming of age (as in making movies in Hollywood - innocence destroyed, the weird and dangerous become understandable and a new, tough code of personal ethics is discovered) story. Put this one on the shelf people - it's a keeper!
Rating:
Summary: "I hate it when they ain't been shaved!"
Review: The year 1987 was kind to horror film lovers, producing a double-shot of vampire thrillers: The Lost Boys and Near Dark. The former's MTV-friendly soundtrack, coupled with then heartthrobs Jason Patric and Kiefer Sutherland, resulted in the latter's box office demise, sending this darker, gorier film into video rental purgatory for many years.
However, Kathryn Bigelow's vampire western struck a chord with the few who saw it and over the years, the movie developed a gradually intensifying cult following. This devotion has finally paid off - Anchor Bay, champions of resurrecting uncelebrated horror films, has produced a wonderful two-disc set that this film and its fans deserve.
For a 15 year old movie, Near Dark looks and sounds remarkable. The image is somewhat gritty (which actually lends itself to the film's atmosphere), but this is due to grainy film stock used as a result of budgetary constraints, not because of a substandard transfer. After watching it for years on a washed out panned and scanned VHS tape, this new transfer - restoring the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio - is a revelation. Anchor Bay has also included a crystal clear DTS audio track. Since the film's modest budget did not afford it surround sound, most of the audio is reserved to the front three speakers. Regardless, major points to the folks at Anchor Bay for the attempt.
The first disc features a lacklustre audio commentary by the film's director and co-screenwriter, Kathryn Bigelow. While she makes some nice observations and is rightly proud of the film, her comments are few and far between on the track.
The second disc contains the rest of the supplemental material, which includes two trailers for Near Dark, a deleted scene with commentary from Bigelow, storyboards for five sequences in the film, still galleries, and the most important extra for fans: a 47-minute documentary, entitled "Living in Darkness," created especially for the DVD.
Bigelow and most of the cast participate in this documentary, and talk candidly and enthusiastically about the film's origins, how the cast came together, the process of making the movie and their thoughts on it now. Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen, in particular, share some fascinating (and often hilarious) anecdotes of their experiences making Near Dark. It is obvious that this project was a labour of love for everyone involved.
For longtime fans of Near Dark - your wait is over and you're bein richly rewarded. For others who are looking to take leave of the usual vampire fare - this movie is well worth more than a casual look.
Rating:
Summary: Effective and Stylish Vampire Yarn
Review: Sunday, August 01, 2004 / 4 of 5 / Effective and Stylish Vampire Yarn
Less lyrical and foppish than Anne Rice's offerings made to movies, Near Dark was a sleeper when it came out. With amusing effects by today's standards, it never the less conveyed an excellent story of civil war era vampires traveling about in an RV through Texas unleashing their mayhem when thirsty. When young dude ranch dude Caleb falls for Mae, he doesn't know what he's getting into as she baptizes him into the world of the night where he must feed or die for all time. The love nest is upset by her running mates including a whacked out Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, the little kid from River's Edge, and the gal who's always in James Cameron movies as the `mom' figure. An excellent soundtrack by Howard Shore who would later do the Rings trilogy drives and comments on the action. There are haunting and beautiful moments expressed through the eyes of Caleb and Mae. Her look of hunger-lust is frightening when she crawls over Caleb to bite him the first time. Overall a decent, underrated entry to the cinema vampire canon.
Rating:
Summary: a new perspective
Review: 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 to the world of being a vampire.This film is beautifully filmed and edited. The acting is strong, and the story holds you from the beginning to the end. Certainly, the bar room scene is a classic; it, alone, makes the film worthwhile. But, don't get me wrong, the entire film is masterfully handled and should be applauded. If nothing else, it has some of the greatest one liners ever spoken in a horror film. Near Dark deserves to be seen. I can't believe I never heard of it before. I just happened to see it in Wal Mart and picked it up. This film is definitely one of my best impulse buys ever. You won't be disappointed.
|
