Bullet Points: Near Dark
Kathryn Bigelow’s 1987 film Near Dark made a conscious effort to be unlike any other vampire movie that came before it… and it succeeded.
The movie leaves behind much of the vampire mythology of the movies that came before it, in fact the word vampire is never even said during the entire 94 minute runtime.
- The Stars at Night: Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar, Top Gun) is a young man out to see what he can get into in his small Texas town… that is when he lays his eyes on the beautiful and mysterious Mae (Jenny Wright, Young Guns II)… Caleb makes his movie and before you know it the two are out in the middle of nowhere looking at some stars (which I have been told are big and bright). After Mae freaks out a little and informs Caleb she needs to be back at the trailer park she is staying at before dawn Caleb… with his window quickly closing, Caleb convinces Mae that making out in his pickup truck would be a nice way to wrap up their evening… and that’s about the time Mae takes a chunk out of Caleb’s neck before departing his company.
- The Day After: It doesn’t take long before Caleb’s body is reacting to Mae’s bite… as he is stumbling back home after sun up… his skin starts to burn. Caleb’s dad and sister see him in the distance making his way home and it is obvious something is not quite right, not realizing Caleb is transforming before their very eyes. Things get even more bizarre when an RV comes barreling by and drag Caleb inside before speeding off. Inside the RV is the pack of blood suckers that Mae runs with aka an Aliens cast reunion… there’s Severen (Bill Paxton), Diamondback (Jenette Goldstein) and Jesse Hooker (Lance Henriksen). Rounding out the group is Homer played by Joshua Miller who I will always associate from his roles in Death Warrant and Class of 1999. Caleb’s introduction to the crew is a memorable one as Severn greets him with “Howdy, I’m gonna separate your head from your shoulders. Hope you don’t mind none.” But before Caleb could become another in the long line of victims this crew of vamps is responsible for… Mae intervenes and tells the group that she’s turned Caleb. Jesse, the ringleader, decrees that they will give Caleb a week to see if he’s got what it takes to run with their crew.
- Bar Room Brawl: You might think with vampires as the central characters in the movie, that Near Dark is a horror film and there are certainly some horror elements involved, but make no mistake about it Near Dark is an action flick. If you need proof look no further than part of Caleb’s initiation that takes place at a redneck bar and the newly turned Caleb finds himself in a barroom brawl… that’s Action Movie 101 right there. The barroom action take an interesting turn when Jesse slits a waitresses throat and fills an empty glass with her blood… in front of several witnesses which means everybody’s gotta die… the last witness standing is a teenage cowboy played by James LeGros (Solarbabies)… Caleb is tasked with dispatching of him and it is not going to be easy as LeGros character defenestrates himself out the window and makes a run for it… Caleb catches up with him but ends up letting him go… Jesse is pissed!
- Checkout Time: Caleb’s lack of a killer instinct has put the whole crew in danger as the cops show up (thanks to the teenage cowboy) and surround the motel bungalow that our vampires are crashing at until the sun goes down. The vampires now have to battle the law and their biggest enemy daylight if they hope to survive. Caleb trying to make good with the crew, risks it all and makes a mad dash for their van and proceeds to drive the van with aluminum foil covered windows directly into the bungalow and facilitating the getaway for the vamps.
- Worlds Collide: Caleb’s new life and his former life intersect as he finds himself in another cheap motel… the same motel where his father Loy Colton (Tim Thomerson, Iron Eagle) and his little sister Sarah are crashing for the night. Loy and Sarah, frustrated with the lack of progress the police were making in the abduction of Caleb, decided to find Caleb themselves. Well, they find Caleb and manage to get him out… but the Coltons are about to find themselves in an epic battle!
Near Dark is near and dear to many movie fans’ hearts and after experiencing it for the first time I understand why. The movie is part love story, part action movie with enough horror sprinkled in to keep that genre of fans more than satisfied.
Near Dark also features some exemplary performances from a talented cast… Lance Henriksen oozes danger every time he appears on screen… Jenette Goldstein knows how to play a badass… Bill Paxton brought his usual enthusiasm and exuberance… and Adrian Pasdar truly earned his spot as the star of the movie with his work in the film.
This Near Dark review is nearly over, so that must mean it is time for some Bonus Bullet Points…
- Familiar Faces: Roger Aaron Brown played the Cajun Truck Driver that picks up Caleb and Mae… to me Roger Aaron Brown will always be Officer Lack from Action Jackson… Speaking of Action Jackson, the bartender in the movie was played by Thomas Wagner, who I also recognized from the underappreciated Carl Weathers film… Last but not least was Troy Evans, who played a plain clothes police officer that tries to help Caleb out. You may recognize Evans from his work in Under Siege.
- Disturbing Quote: “Bartender, gimme a couple shots of whatever donkey piss you are shoving down these cocksucker’s throats.”
- Marquee Name: When Caleb is stumbling through town you can see that Aliens is playing at the local theater.
- Soundtraxx: John Parr is probably best known for his classic “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion” but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pop for the inclusion of his song “Naughty Naughty” in Near Dark.
- Urkel Quote: “Did I Do That?” – Caleb
- One Question: What other diseases or afflictions could Tim Thomerson’s blood be able to combat? This movie was just further proof of how awesome Thomerson is.
- Favorite Scene: Caleb vs. Severen with a tanker truck involved hands down.
