Near Dark

NEAR DARK (18)

D: Kathryn Bigelow

Feldman-Meeker (Steven Charles Jaffe)

US 1987

94 mins

Horror/Crime/Thriller

W: Kathryn Bigelow & Eric Red

DP: Adam Greenberg

Ed: Howard Smith

Mus: Tangerine Dream

Adrian Pasdar (Caleb Colton), Jenny Wright (Mae), Lance Henriksen (Jesse Hooker), Bill Paxton (Severen), Jenette Goldstein (Diamondback), Joshua Miller (Homer), Tim Thomerson (Loy Colton)

One of two vampire movies released in 1987 (along with The Lost Boys), and whilst this one wasn't the bigger hit out of the two, many could argue this is by far the better (and certainly the more mature) of the two films.

Kathryn Bigelow's directorial debut puts a spin on both horror & western genres, the word 'vampire' is never actually used or even paid reference to during the duration, but the principal rules are still there. They live by night, require blood for sustenance and most importantly of all, cannot survive in sunlight! (Take heed Stephenie Meyer!)

The story follows young cowboy Caleb (Adrian Pasdar), who is seduced and subsequently bitten by a new girl in town (Jenny Wright), before being abducted by her 'family' of serial-killing vampires (Henriksen, Goldstein, Paxton & Miller), who travel from town-to-town embarking on crime sprees.

Lance Henriksen steals thunder as the 'father' of the group & Bill Paxton delivers a manic performance as 'brother' Severin, reluctant to let Caleb into the tight unit.

There's some great dialogue, atmospheric photography and haunting music from German electronica group 'Tangerine Dream', and though it may not have been a huge hit on its initial cinema release, it went on to garner a huge cult following and quite deservedly so.

7/10