Near Dark

release year: 1987
genre: offbeat vampire horror
viewing setting: home DVD 4/9/25 and home VHS 5/5/02

synopsis: A clan of vampires roams the countryside, and a young farm boy gets involved with them.

impressions: It's a different kind of vampire movie: you don't see fangs, crosses, or vampire hunters. The basic idea is that this handful of vampires travels by night and beds down by day, feeding as they please. The protagonist is a young local kid who gets bit by the lonely young female vampire, and it just gets complicated from there. The whole thing is different and entertaining.

things to watch for: The bar/fight scene is fun.

acting: Though there are a number of good roles here, it's Bill Paxton's vampire-with-attitude who really stood out to me. A very young Adrian Pasdar is the redneck-type kid who gets taken. Lance Henriksen is the old but somewhat reckless leader of the group. Tim Thomerson is the new vampire's father, who will stop at nothing to find him and bring him home.

final word: Somewhat non-traditional and fun vampire flick.

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