Near Dark (1987)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow [Other horror films: N/A]

This vampire film is a very unique addition to the genre, and is generally well-liked. Having seen it twice, while I definitely appreciate it, Near Dark isn’t my type of movie at all, though.

Horror takes a backseat to a moral drama of sorts, with heavy dashes of romance and the importance of family. I’m not a drama fan, nor much a romance fan, though, so much of this film, while somewhat emotional in many ways, isn’t my cup of tea whatsoever. When there are solid horror elements, such as the bar sequence, the movie gains a lot more of my attention. But for a lot of the film, aside from a few characters worth watching, Near Dark didn’t have much to offer.

There were some solid performances here (such as the lead Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, and Tim Thomerson among them), but the real stand-out here was Bill Paxton as Severen. His wild antics and attitude, especially during the bar sequence, really made him a character worth remembering. Lance Henriksen was decent, don’t get me wrong, but Paxton ultimately stole the show almost entirely.

I don’t love Near Dark, but I do appreciate what it was going for. For many people, it’s a fun ride and a memorable experience. I’ll give them that it’s definitely memorable, but as for me, I didn’t have a lot of fun with it, especially the final twenty or so minutes, which I honestly didn’t care for whatsoever. The highlight was definitely the bar scene (as one can probably tell, as this is the third time I’ve mentioned it), and if the rest of the movie had been like that, I’d have enjoyed Near Dark a hell of a lot more.

5/10

Near Dark was covered on Fight Evil’s podcast, so to hear Chucky (@ChuckyFE) and I discuss it, by all means, join in on the fun and listen brahs.