Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein
From: F/M
Caleb could have avoided all this if he had only kept his hormones in check…
“Right before it leaves the Criterion Channel” was perfect for me to check out a film that for reasons unknown to me is rarely found on streaming… at least legally. Given all the talent involved-including a Tangerine Dream score that was as bitchin’ as I suspected-this review was LONG overdue.
In rural Oklahoma Adrian Pasdar’s Cody was a poor dupe who happened to run into Jenny Wright’s Mae one night. Because he was horny and wanted a kiss from her, she turns him into a vampire and he joins their clan. As the clan includes Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein and Bill Paxton (naturally, the highlight for me) it was quite the clan indeed. Even in ’87 vampire lore probably felt hackneyed or at least too familiar; Near Dark at least feels fresh with the way the vampires are portrayed and the traits the film introduced. They were an interesting collection of characters so that alone was enough to keep my attention. Some great aesthetic moments and the score only make it better.
The highlight is an extended scene in a bar which I dare not spoil except that Paxton was hilarious and I was NOT expecting to hear John Parr’s Naughty Naughty as that’s a New Wave tune rather than a George Strait song at a honky tonk place… you DO hear a song from him near the conclusion of said scene. Near Dark simply has a lot of style and while set in modern times, there’s always a Western flavor that permeates throughout. Family is another key theme; all those elements came together to make a vampire picture that has aged like fine wine.
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