MOTW #41 NEAR DARK

[Kikabi]

The Movie of the Week #41:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa185/Kikabi/NearDark.jpg

Near Dark - 1987

Pray for Daylight

Written by Kathryn Bigelow & Eric Red
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Original Music: Tangerine Dream
Cinematography: Adam Greensberg
Special Makeup Effects: Derek Howard and Gordon J. Smith

Adrian Pasdar: Caleb Colton
Jenny Wright: Mae
Lance Henriksen: Jesse Hooker
Bill Paxton: Severen
Jenette Goldstein: Diamondback
Tim Thomerson: Loy Colton
Joshua John Miller: Homer
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Upcoming Schedule:

May 25th - MOTW #42: House
June 1st - MOTW #43: Saw
Movie of the Week #44?
Please go to The Schmoe Horror Movie of the Week (http://www.joblo.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2756139#post2756139)thread to VOTE for which movie you'd like to see for Week #44

[ZMoney08]

I'll check this out on youtube soon.

[poopontheshoes7]

Near Dark is awesome. I saw it on Arrows love for it alone. I had never heard of it before and actual blind bought it(something I rarely do).

I thought it was pretty good, if a little overrated. But as time goes by it continues to grow on me. The visuals are breathtaking and the film has this sort of dreamlike quality flowing through it the whole time. I love the clan (except for Homer, I hate that little fuck. Really the only sore spot in the whole movie), and I think the love story, although underdeveloped, is sweet and sort of fairytale like.

Lance Henriksen is the man as always and Bill Paxton proves once again why he's a badass as Severene. Janet Goldstein did fine with what she was given and Jenny Wright is beautiful. I wish she didnt dissapear off the face of the earth.

The bar scene is one for the books as well. Its the turning point of the movie. Near Dark also sports good gore, well directed action scenes and the best "burning" in any vampire flick.

9/10

[JJFlamingo]

A great concept with a good cast that never quite gells together and Pasdar is AWFUL in the lead...

7/10

[yorrick brown]

kathryn bigelow tick
eric red tick
tangerine dream tick
and of course bill paxton big tick

8/10 of awesomeness

[Kikabi]

An almost perfect horror movie! It takes time for character development while never letting up the chills, suspense and action. And what a great assemblage of characters perfectly cast. I was genuinely frightened for Caleb's sister. It's not perfect because it require extra suspense of disbelief. Beside the oft-mentioned transfusion cure, I think that Jesse and crew would have been hunt down long before this - they certainly left a clear trail to follow even without a victim getting away to rat on them. And it seems to be their MO well before they get thier hands on Caleb.


Tangerine Dream's soundtrack is fantastic. Kathryn Bigelow's best movie (although Point Break fans might argue that!) And I respectfully disagree with JJ - I think Adrian Pasdar did just fine playing character who was constantly confused by his situation and the creatures around him, never sure of his footing.

8/10

[Cronos]

kathryn bigelow tick
eric red tick
tangerine dream tick
and of course bill paxton big tick
Yup, those are some of what makes this the best vampire movie ever. The cast is excellent, Paxton, Henrikson, Goldstein, Wright (it's a shame she disappeared, was great in this) all do excellent jobs. I love the script, there's some great conversations and lines throughout the film. It's easily my favourite film from Kathryn Bigelow, her direction is brilliant and Tangerine Dreams score adds to every scene it's used in. Just fantastic.

10/10

[ERIN_LoJ]

The little kid irritated me pretty bad until the end, especially his smugness at the bar scene. I HATE smugness. I also didnt like the convenient ending solution. However, still a great movie. And I agree about the Tangerine score, I own it on the computer, it's great.

[Ratlehed]

I wanted to re-watch this again for the MOTW. But it doesnt look like i'll get to it anytime soon. I saw it twcie before. I bought it when the spec. ed. DVD came out.

I wasnt too impressed with it. I thought after reading alot of good things about it I'd enjoy it more. The charectars were okay. No one was really cool or anything. The story was abit boring and theres not alot of action until the end. Even the "famous" bar scene wasnt that great. Tim Thomerson wasnt given enough to do either.

As far as 80's vampire flicks go I'll stick with Fright Night and The Lost Boys. Near Dark wasnt my cup of tea.

2/4 stars. Not the worst movie ever but wasnt that gratifying.

[ZMoney08]

I liked this movie. Some good acting by Paxton, he plays a good crazy guy. It was a very good vampire movie and I like that they never actually say they are vampires in the movie. The bar scene was my favorite. Good visual shots and score. The problem I see is that they were always getting caught in the sun...wouldn't seasoned vampires be better at avoiding that or at least have more close around to cover up.

7/10

[nayland]

I really liked this movie. I saw it when it first came out and i just recently watched it again. Now it's a little dated but still good fun none the less. I love the bar scene. Paxton is so cool"I HATE THEM WHEN THEY AIN'T BEEN SHAVED!" Pasdar was probably the weakest link in the movie.