8 / 10. The night has its price. Another 1980s vampire cult classic like The Lost Boys, but with a darker, western feel

Near Dark is a dark, atmospheric neo-Western horror film co-written and directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

The film follows cowboy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar), and how his life spirals after a chance meeting with beautiful and mysterious drifter, Mae (Jenny Wright), at a local bar in his small midwestern town. Just before sunrise, she bites his neck and flees leaving him alone and confused. As the sun rises Caleb begins to smoke in its oncoming rays, Mae and her nomadic vampire family catch up to him in a blacked-out RV and kidnap him. Mae wants to keep him…

Near Dark doesn’t feature typical vampires with teeth, etc, but they are very mysterious and creepy. The film is a 1980s vampire cult classic like The Lost Boys, but with a western feel and a darker atmosphere and ambience to it.

Part of the story is similar to The Lost Boys, with the main protagonist being unknowingly turned into a vampire after being foolishly hoodwinked by an elusive attractive girl. Jenny Wright is perfectly cast as Mae, the young, haunted vampire torn by human feelings of guilt and now, love. She has become a monster, but that is what she is, not who she is.

Lance Henriksen is on good form as vampire leader Jesse, and as always, a great addition to any 1980s cult film (Aliens, The Terminator and also the excellent Millennium - 1996 – 1999). Bill Paxton is in his element as the bonkers Severen. Near Dark is also an Aliens reunion with Lance, Bill and Jenette Goldstein (Diamondback) all starring in both films.

The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful with a 1980s synth music soundtrack from Tangerine Dream. I recently found that some music used in Stranger Things was familiar and realised it was Tangerine Dream, and how much I recognised their signature sound. Sound can bring back memories and nostalgia like nothing else. This type of music brings back my 1980s youth and the awe and excitement I felt at the time when I was getting into Sci-Fi and horror movies.

I like the hints at how old they are from some of their stories: Severen discusses the fire the fire they started in Chicago (The Great Chicago fire was in 1871), in a very tense bar scene with a simmering build up. Kathryn Bigelow is an amazing director and the film has a dreamy, ethereal feel throughout.

Near Dark is obvious inspiration for True Blood and many other TV shows and films featuring the undead, a cult classic contribution to the vampiric genre.

“What a lovely way to burn.”