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Near Dark (1987)

post #1 of 21
2/5/07 at 12:31am
Thread Starter 


Near Dark (1987) B

Sarah: You people sure stay up late.
Severen: We keep odd hours.

Saw this for the first time the other day and I loved it. One of the best "horror" films ever made I'd say. It seemed almost "Angel" like (but dare I say better?) with the man who is bitten and slowly turns. We see what it's like dealing with it and how he copes with killing to feed his hunger.

The supporting is cast is pretty good too. You got Lance Henricksen, Bill Paxton and that Latino chick from Aliens. So it's an Aliens reunion. Plus you got that biker Arnold assaults in Terminator 2. And come on, who doesn't want to see a vampire Bill Paxton hitchhike and pick up two sluts?




So, has anyone else seen this movie?
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post #2 of 21
2/5/07 at 12:40am
In my top ten favorite films of all time, and my favorite vampire anything ever. The DVD is aces, too -- I love hearing Lance talk about the elaborate backstory he created for his character, and how he freaked out a cop while he was still in character/costume. Plus, you get to hear Bigelow and Lance's idea for a sequel, called "First Light."

Hugely influential on my own shit, too. I've got a script that I've been working on for ages in a myriad of forms that's heavily inspired by this.
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post #3 of 21
2/5/07 at 12:52am
Thread Starter 
I read that about Henricksen on the Wikipedia. Seems like for such a small movie he took the role very seriously. Good for him. He gave a pretty good performance but then he always seems to give one.

Did the sequel they mentioned deal with Mae battling an extended family of the vampires? I read that on Wikipedia as well. Seems like it could have been a let down. I don't really know what a good sequel to this would have been. I suppose if it dealt with her still feeling the hunger or something and the family welcomes her back I guess it could work.

I just read on IMDb that Michael Biehn apparently turned down a role. Any idea who he was to play?

If I see the DVD somewhere I'll most likely pick it up. I wouldn't even have seen this if it was recommended by someone I know. Glad he mentioned it. I really, really liked this movie.
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post #4 of 21
2/5/07 at 12:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan

The supporting is cast is pretty good too. You got Lance Henricksen, Bill Paxton and that Latino chick from Aliens. So it's an Aliens reunion.

So, has anyone else seen this movie?
"Has anyone seen else seen this movie?" - um, that movie is bigger than Jesus in these here parts.

The reason for the Aliens reunion is pretty simple - Katherine Bigelow was involved with future ex-husband Jim Cameron at the time, and they just sorta rolled the Aliens production into Near Dark (from my understanding of it) - Michael Biehn was supposed to be on board as well but didn't like the script.

Checking to verify the previous piece, Bigelow has a pretty interesting filmography, having directed Point Break, Strange Days, and The Weight of Water, all of which are very solid flicks.

"I haven't had this much fun since I cornholed your mama in the back of my pickup truck!"
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post #5 of 21
2/5/07 at 12:56am
Thread Starter 
Bill Paxton at his best.

Severen: It ain't what's goin' on, son. It's what's comin' off. Your face. Clean off.

Severen: [sucking blood off his fingers] It's finger-lickin' GOOD!

Severen: Howdy. I'm gonna separate your head from your shoulders. Hope you don't mind none.
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post #6 of 21
2/5/07 at 1:02am
B-Man, I believe Biehn was originally slated to play Paxton's role.

As for the sequel, they don't say much about the plot, but they describe what the opening would be: A deer walks across the road where the climax of the film occurs when it gets hit by a truck. As the truck speeds away, the deer's blood seeps down into the cracks and...BAM! Severen, all torn up and burned and shit, pulls himself up out of the ground.
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post #7 of 21
2/5/07 at 1:07am
Thread Starter 
Biehn in Paxton's role? Hmmm... Paxton was hilarious and I think if Biehn played him it would have been a completely different performance and character probably.

And a Paxton lead sequel? Sweet marmalade on toast that would have been great!
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post #8 of 21
2/5/07 at 1:19am
The dvd is pretty awesome, definitely worth picking up.

My main gripe with the film is the ending. It feels different that the rest of the film, which is just so damn dark.

I wish they were doing a sequel instead of a remake.
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post #9 of 21
2/5/07 at 1:24am
This movie recently took a very slight nosedive for me. I rewatched it after more than ten years, and I just can't get past the ending. After everything that's gone down, the wrap-up is just too damn easy, and it doesn't even make sense. If human blood is some kind of miracle cure for vampirism, what have they been feeding on all this time?

Everything leading up to the ending is still gold. But the final moments just feel like a big fat cheat.

edit: As Alex already pointed out.
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post #10 of 21
2/5/07 at 1:44am
Thread Starter 
I had problem with the ending as well. It did seem way to easy and it felt like they had something else planned but ran out of film or a budget. And how come everyone else exploded, including Lance and the Aliens girl who were in a car, except the vampire girl who was in direct sunlight? And I love the young kid who wanted to rape Caleb's sister. That was some pretty creepy shit.
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post #11 of 21
2/5/07 at 1:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
This movie recently took a very slight nosedive for me. I rewatched it after more than ten years, and I just can't get past the ending. After everything that's gone down, the wrap-up is just too damn easy, and it doesn't even make sense. If human blood is some kind of miracle cure for vampirism, what have they been feeding on all this time?
I always assumed that replacing the tainted blood in a transfusion was different than feeding on it.
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post #12 of 21
2/5/07 at 2:33am
But I don't see how that could have any effect unless they replaced all of the blood in the recipient with human blood. And that hardly seems possible. How much blood does Tim Thomerson have, anyway? I mean, the guy's overflowing with awesomeness and all, but still...

I share Brendan's feeling that it seems like there was supposed to be something else there.
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post #13 of 21
2/5/07 at 6:50am
My very first thread in these boards.
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post #14 of 21
2/5/07 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RathBandu
Hugely influential on my own shit, too. I've got a script that I've been working on for ages in a myriad of forms that's heavily inspired by this.
Me too. Damn, we're a bunch of unoriginal bastards.

Actually, mine started out heavily influenced by it, but it's kind of gone its own way as it's developed.
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post #15 of 21
2/5/07 at 11:44am
EW (Entertainment Weekly) reported that they are considering RE-making this film. And that Michael Bay is involved. They were also on board with us in begging them NOT TO.

Is Hollywood so fucking idea bankrupt that they can't do ANYTHING original anymore?!?

Give me the original, or give me nothing.
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post #16 of 21
2/5/07 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan
[
Wash day tomorrow, nothing clean.
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post #17 of 21
2/5/07 at 8:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
But I don't see how that could have any effect unless they replaced all of the blood in the recipient with human blood. And that hardly seems possible. How much blood does Tim Thomerson have, anyway? I mean, the guy's overflowing with awesomeness and all, but still...
Well, I never said my theory was airtight.
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post #18 of 21
2/5/07 at 9:27pm
This is a great flick, and I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said. Paxton is awesome, Henriksen is solid, and I'm going to have to pick up the 2 dvd set soon, before they stop making it. Plus the score is great. I have the c.d. Tangerine Dream really did it with this one, and Miracle Mile.
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post #19 of 21
2/5/07 at 10:09pm
Personally, I can't stand Tangerine Dream. They wrote the same score over and over. They're frickin' annoying, and their stuff has aged very badly. Nothing screams 80's like a Tangerine Dream score.
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post #20 of 21
3/4/07 at 5:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
Personally, I can't stand Tangerine Dream. They wrote the same score over and over. They're frickin' annoying, and their stuff has aged very badly. Nothing screams 80's like a Tangerine Dream score.
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post #21 of 21
5/30/07 at 3:16pm
Just watched it for the first time last night. Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikson are GODS in this. That 'we keep odd hours' is one of the funniest things on film and it's all Paxton. I love Michael Biehn as much as the next guy (at least in these parts) but I am glad he turned down the role.

Yeah, the transfusion seemed like an easy way out, but if they treat vampirism like a blood virus, it's at least somewhat plausable. Good shit.
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