Project-Blu Near Dark, by M. Enois Duarte

Near Dark

By: M. Enois Duarte, 11.29.2009

The Movie Itself:
Before donning the role of a flying politician on 'Heroes,' Adrian Pasdar was a young, rugged cowboy turned vampire. 'Near Dark' is the long forgotten vampire flick from the 80s rising from its coffin to haunt Pasdar's newfound popularity. Fortunately, it's not a bad thing as the movie is loads of fun with plenty of meaningless carnage and sadistic violence from a gang of bloodsuckers. They take Pasdar's character through the wildest time of his life in a low-budget film which has gained a strong following since its release. If you've never seen it, there is no time like the mortal present. The film mixes various action genres for an entertaining commentary on the consequences of lust and the postmodern youth culture of America.

Set in the Oklahoma farm country, where young sexually-charged men have nothing to do but hang out by the pick-up and drink some Pabst Blue Ribbon, Pasdar plays the hopeless romantic Caleb Colton. One night, he comes across the angelic and attractive Mae (Jenny Wright), an unusual drifter who is unlike any girl Caleb's ever met. Her kisses really are eternal. Discovering a sudden aversion to sunlight, he reluctantly joins Mae's family, led by the charismatic Jesse (Lance Henriksen) and his girl Diamondback (Jenette Goldstein), and bullied by the sociopath Severen (Bill Paxton). When this wannabe Manson-family takes to kidnapping Caleb's sister, things suddenly change, and the cowboy is forced to take care of business, guns-a-blazing.

Released at a time when movies about the undead were on a rise, this lover's tale from Kathryn Bigelow ('Point Break', 'The Hurt Locker') and Eric Red ('Body Parts', 'The Hitcher') went against the grain of blending comedy with vampire lore, like 'The Lost Boys' and 'Monster's Squad'. The tone of the narrative is much more serious and mature, confronting the bloodsucking creatures as the sadistic, unattractive monsters they truly are rather than romanticized children of the night. Added to that, Mae's family lacks subtlety or tact and simply kill for the very enjoyment of it. They are more like a band of gypsies - antisocial renegades and the embodiment of nihilistic dread. There is nothing to admire about them but much to fear.

Bigelow also sits behind the camera to give 'Near Dark' a steady and entertaining pace, which is something strongly needed in such a departure from convention. Situating the vampire fantasy within the Western genre and a tinge of teen romance and bikers, she pulls off a weirdly exciting and almost lyrical piece of cinema. With original, trancelike electro music from Tangerine Dream, the entire film expresses a strange, quixotic experience in Caleb's journey of the existential and meaninglessness. His unprotected pursuit of a stranger in Mae exposes hidden consequences and penalties for his lust. The film starts with Caleb's awareness of his dull existence, and Bigelow takes us through his voyage of lawless stimulation with great finesse.

'Near Dark' is a wonderful forgotten gem which deserves to be revisited by modern horror fans. While Pasdar and Wright are excellent in their respective roles, Henriksen and Paxton steal the show as the vicious barbarians of unrestricted rage and the wild night life. With Adam Greenberg's attractive photography, Bigelow gives her film a fun and stylized appearance which defies genre conventions. It's a great vampire flick with a craving for the Wild West.
Rating: 8/10

The Presentation:
Other than VHS, 'Near Dark' has been released on DVD two other times before being given the hi-def treatment by Lionsgate Films Home Entertainment. In comparison to those previous versions, this AVC-encoded transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio is the clear winner.

Considering the print is now 22-years-old, the film looks very spiffy and much better than would be expected for a forgotten horror gem. The picture is free of blemishes and nicely detailed for a catalog title. It's far from the best we've seen of the studio, but clarity and resolution are strong while contrast is just above average. Brightness levels are also good, producing some deep, accurate blacks. Unfortunately, there are a few scenes when those same blacks suddenly lose some of their luster and look a bit grayish. Details in the shadows are visible, yet low-lit interiors can get a little murky at times. It's not a consistent issue, but it does happen on occasion. While secondary hues are clean and well-rendered, primaries are bright, especially red, but don't contain the vividness we've come to expect of the format. Overall, this is the best the film has ever looked, and I doubt that it could be improved any further.
Rating: 6.4/10

DTS-HD Master Audio track accompanying the transfer is also good, much like the video, but don't expect the next best thing to impress friends and neighbors. The original sound design has been expanded to really fill-in the front soundstage, displaying an attractive and engaging presence with smooth separation between channels. Dynamic range and acoustics are also clean and well-balanced, delivering a few of the higher frequencies without difficulty and maintaining strong clarity throughout. Dialogue reproduction is equally precise and discernable, and low bass response is deep and appreciable for an 80s stereo track. The mix also exhibits some good activity in the rear speakers with a few minor ambient effects and the music of Tangerine Dream, extending the soundfield a bit for an enjoyable lossless track.
Rating: 6.8/10

Overall Presentation: 7/10

** 9 - 10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
Lionsgate Home Entertainment releases 'Near Dark' with a lackluster package of supplements. They're not bad or anything, but something new like a retrospective would've been nice.

Audio Commentary with Kathryn Bigelow
Documentary: "Living in Darkness" (SD, 47 min)
One Deleted Scene with Director Commentary (SD, 1 min)
Theatrical Trailers (SD)

Rating: 4/10

Final Thoughts:
'Near Dark' is the forgotten horror gem with Adrian Pasdar and the cast of 'Aliens'. It's a stylish and smart vampire flick which defies genre conventions and gives horror aficionados a new breed of monster. Lionsgate Home Entertainment releases the cult favorite with an improved A/V presentation but a lackluster package of supplements. Overall, fans will be happy with the purchase while newcomers will want to give it a rent first.
Rating: 6/10