Near Dark – 1987
Posted by Scott on 20 Oct 2008 at 02:34 am | Tagged as: Underrated Films
It wouldn’t be Shocktober without a good vampire movie. Bloodsuckers have been all the rage in recent years what with the Blade and Underworld series racking in mucho dinero. The iconic Dracula and the myriad of Hammer films produced during the 1970s have made vampires a staple in American cinema. Be it Angel or Lestat, the immortal creatures of the night never seem to disappear from mainstream culture. True Blood, currently running on HBO, and the upcoming Twilight are proof that vampires are alive, or rather dead and well in 2008.
Caleb just met the girl of his nightmares, a quiet young lass named Mae. A night of star gazing and heavy petting ends with a love-bite for Caleb. A love-bite on his neck. Come sunrise Caleb is feelin’ a little toasty. He tries to hump it home but gets kidnapped along the way by a Winnebago of weirdos. Saving him from death by fire is Mae’s “family”. Daddy Jesse, mommy Diamondback, big bro Severen and Grandpa Homer. Now, their not what you would call a traditional family. They’re vampires who roam the Kansas plains in search of fresh blood.
Caleb’s acceptance into the unit will be complete once he makes his first kill. His reluctance to do so puts him at odds with the undead clan. Mae’s love will only carry him so far. Meanwhile, Caleb’s father and little sister are worried sick. The police offer zero help so they hit the road to find Caleb themselves. Caleb, initially seduced by becoming a vampire, finds Jesse and the rest to be a little overzealous when brutally murdering and bloodletting innocent country folk. Caleb wants out and once his family is threatened by the “family” he takes his leave. But Jesse and Co. hold a grudge and follow Caleb back to Oklahoma to settle the score once and for all.
Writer/Director Kathryn Bigelow broke onto the scene with this gory tale. There’s no elaborate creature-effects or tedious backstory. It’s vampires baby, nothin’ but vampires. That’s a complement not a criticism. My favorite succubus flicks are those that eschew the glitz and glamour (The Lost Boys, Salem’s Lot). I’ll take slit throats and burning flesh over castles and accents anyday. A cast of familiar faces includes Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen and Jeanette Goldstein, all of whom would go on to star in James Cameron’s catalog of films. Near Dark is one of the better bloodsucker movies I’ve seen. If you haven’t caught it yet get yourself a copy and enjoy.
The trailer for Near Dark:
