Near Dark

the term 'vampire' is never used, this western horror hybrid eschewing all traditional gothic hang-ups

Film Review by Declan Dineen | 10 Feb 2007
Film title: Near Dark
Release date: 12 Feb.
Released in 1987 on the same day as the all star horror blockbuster The Lost Boys, Kathryn Bigelow's first film, the independently produced Near Dark, has always been in the shadows. Over time though, thanks to some excellent casting and original thinking - the term 'vampire' is never used, this western horror hybrid eschewing all traditional gothic hang ups – it has garnered a cult following that has prompted the release of this two disc special edition.

The main narrative involves a love story - girl meets guy, girl turns guy into vampire so she can be with him – but the heart of the film lies with the amoral makeshift family of vampires that Mae travels around with, and their life of no consequences.

With a slow and haunting build up, the film explodes into life and essentially climaxes with the family descending on a local bar, torturing and toying with each of their prey before going in for the kill.

This one scene elevates Near Dark to a genre classic, but also proves its undoing, as the film never quite reaches the heady heights of these moments again. [Declan Dineen]
Release Date: 12 Feb.