Review of Near Dark (1987) by Alex P — 11 Feb 2009

Released three months after "The Lost Boys", this little vampire film didn't enjoy the same box office success and must have been seen as a Johnny Come Lately. But they're not the same film. They're really not even all that similar. For instance, where Lost Boys takes place in California, Near Dark takes place in Oklahoma and Kansas. There are far fewer earrings, leather jackets, and much less eyeliner among the vampires.

But all in all, Near Dark is a cult classic, with a tale that's well told, if not entirely well acted.

Jenny Wright is just AWFUL as the innocently sexual teenage vamp May. She's completely (un)dead behind the eyes.

But Adrian Pasdar (who would go on to play Nathan Petrelli on "Heroes") is serviceable as the young redneck who's been bitten by the girl of his dreams.

And both Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton give career highlight performances as leaders of the vampire clan.

Paxton in particular is so much better here than in everything else I've ever seen. The character Severen is a wild man, completely unpredictable, loving every kill, savoring every drop of blood. Put it this way: If they remade this movie today, Ben Foster would play this role. Now think of Bill Paxton in that part, and amazingly, think of his being REALLY good.

But my favorite character has got to be Henriksen's Jesse. This is classic Henriksen, but it's early in his career. This performance comes immediately after "Aliens", but Jesse is so far from Bishop, it's not even funny.

Henriksen also has the best line in the film:

"Hey Jesse, how old are you?".

"Put it this way, kid. I fought for the South.".