Movie Review: Near Dark (1987)
Released in 1987, Near Dark is a hybrid vampire-western horror directed by Kathryn Bigelow in her first full-length directorial effort. Starring Adrian Pasdar and Jenny Wright in the lead roles, the film combines western, road, and vampire genres while crafting a darkly atmospheric world inhabited by a ruthless pack of vampires.
Key Takeaways:
- Near Dark is a genre-blending vampire western directed by Kathryn Bigelow in her directorial debut.
- It features a chilling atmospheric world and memorable central performances.
- The film combines elements of the western, horror, road, and vampire genres.
- Bigelow brought a unique feminist perspective to the vampire genre with Near Dark.
- Though not initially successful at the box office, Near Dark has since achieved cult classic status.
Despite its lacklustre initial box office reception, Near Dark has gone on to achieve cult classic status and is now considered one of the most original and influential vampire films ever made. It steers away from typical vampire movie tropes, removing the overt gothic romanticism while retaining the blood, gore, and implicit eroticism of the genre.
Bigelow brings her background in theory and avant-garde film to construct a neo-noir aesthetic that blends surreal imagery with gritty realism. This innovative directing laid the groundwork for her future success with visceral films like Point Break (1991) and her Academy Award wins for best picture and director for The Hurt Locker (2008) and Zero Dark Thirty (2012).
“I think Near Dark has a posture unlike any other vampire film I can think of. The vampires are really like a pack of coyotes, operating as a family, and they live day to day.” — Kathryn Bigelow, Director
Forty years later, Near Dark continues to thrill viewers. Its masterful combination of genres and introduction of feminist perspectives create a uniquely thrilling film that deserves revisiting.
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