‘Near Dark’
I’ve been on a bit of a vampire kick lately. Credit (blame?) Decider contributor Walter Chaw, whose recent essay on Kathryn Bigelow’s 1987 vampire neo-western Near Dark got me in this headspace. Near Dark recently debuted on Shudder, and it’s got everything you want from a vampire movie (provided, that is, your list of vampire must-haves doesn’t include Hungarian accents or old-timey castles). It’s a uniquely American spin on the mythology of vampires, one that sports a rough-hewn yet gorgeous visual style. It is also propelled by outstanding supporting performances from a trio of actors that Bigelow borrowed from her ex James Cameron’s tour-de-force Aliens: Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and Jenette Goldstein.