This has to be one of the most atmospheric movies ever. The whole thing has a quiet, dreamy, 2am in the morning feel to it (the music by Tangerine Dream is especially atmospheric). There are also countless touches which add realism to what would be an otherwise implausable concept. These vamps don't sleep in coffins, or caves, but in cheap motels with the curtains taped down, and 'Do Not Disturb' signs posted on the door. When they're caught out on the road in an R.V., they spraypaint the windows to block out the sun.
There are also a number of classic scenes. The barroom brawl which turns into a bloodbath isprobably the most memorable, as is the motel shootout, and various burning vampire scenes. These scenes, and the make-up involved look genuinely disturbing and painful.
Near Dark also has possibly the best cinematography of any horror film. The acting is also fairly solid with the exception of Adrian Pasdar, who's adequate, but well below the standard of the rest of the cast.
Bill Paxton is entertaining as the wisecracking Severin, and even the usually wooden Lance Henrikson was a little more enthusiastic than usual in his portrayal of the civil war veteran Jesse. This film obviously influenced From Dusk Till Dawn (especially Near Dark's bar sequence). This is a sorely underappreciated classic worth tracking down, and well worth many a repeated viewing. |
