Near Dark
God damn great vampire film from one of the best action directors around. I love everything Kathryn Bigelow has done (yes, including Point Break) but this is still her best work.
The idea that if vampires actually existed they would be more like junkies chasing their next fix than the romantic poseurs painted by the likes of Anne Rice, is one that lends itself brilliantly to the dirty washed out look chosen for the film (The word “vampire” is never said, but c’mon – they’re immortal and drink blood!). Bigelow steals half the cast from Aliens (She was briefly married to Jim Cameron a few years after this. Coincidence?), and turns them from hardened space marines into filthy and dangerous outlaws. Near Dark is, at its heart, a vampire western, and despite the strange images of John Wayne or Eastwood with fangs that might be popping up in your head about now, the genres blend beautifully together.
Check this out if you haven’t already. It’s worth watching just for the bar scene, the movie’s centrepiece, where you can tell Bill Paxton has some real fun with his insane character. And if you have the US DVD release make sure you check out the special features to hear Lance Henriksen talk in length about his method acting approach to a character who was a centuries old vampire. Fruitcake or genius? You decide.