Near Dark (1987): Kathryn Bigelow's Neo-Noir Vampire Western

What makes Katherine Bigelow's Near Dark a vampire film that doesn't play by the usual rules?Near Dark is a vampire film that didn't catch too much audience attention at release but quietly found its way to cult horror movie status.A bit of a Neo-western, the movie is about a small-town Oklahoma kid named Caleb who falls in love with a girl named Mae who ends up being a vampire. And when she bites him, she pulls him into the world of the night and hiding from the light of day.But what sets this film apart is its revisionist depiction of the vampire mythos. Instead of the glamorous world of near invisibility, it's the pathetic world of Near Dark. The vampires in the film are vagabonds, struggling to stay out of sight and avoiding the sun.Join me for this discussion of low-tech sunblocking methods, performances and scenes you won't forget, and whether or not one of the wrinkles in the plot spoils the movie.Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Written by Eric Red and Kathryn Bigelow. Starring Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, and Tim Thomerson.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com