The Most Unfairly Overlooked Vampire Movie Never Says The Word “Vampire”

By Matthew Flynn
| Published 2 minutes ago

Near Dark, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is a unique blend of neo-Western and horror genres. The plot traces the life of Caleb Colton, a small-town young man, who gets entwined with a family of nomadic American vampires. The film stars Adrian Pasdar as the protagonist Caleb, with Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstein in the supporting roles.

Originally, Kathryn Bigelow had intended to make a pure Western movie with Near Dark. However, she found garnering financial backing too challenging. Unfazed, she decided to embed the elements of the popular vampire genre into the Western setting.

This ambitious undertaking of blending the genres led to a revisionist interpretation and brought about the resurgence of American vampire films in the 1980s.

Near Dark first graced the silver screen at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 1987 before being officially released on October 2, 1987, across 262 theaters. Despite its innovative take on the vampire genre, the movie failed to make a significant impact at the box office initially. Nevertheless, it won the favor of critics and eventually cultivated a dedicated cult following over the years.

The narrative of Near Dark is centered around Caleb, who encounters Mae, an enigmatic drifter. After she bites him on the neck, he finds himself turning into a vampire and is subsequently taken into the fold of her roving vampire crew. Caleb grapples with his new form, particularly his aversion to kill for sustenance, which estranges him from his new family.

Renowned for her unique storytelling style and visual flair, Kathryn Bigelow made her directorial debut with Near Dark. After, Bigelow continued to create groundbreaking films across a broad spectrum of genres, from war drama The Hurt Locker, which saw her become the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director, to the thrilling action in Point Break and the gripping drama of Zero Dark Thirty.

Bigelow was married to director James Cameron from 1989 to 1991 and knew him prior to her work on Near Dark. Their connection could explain the carryover from Cameron’s Aliens to Near Dark. Three actors from Cameron’s film, Paxton, Goldstein and Henriksen, also appear in Near Dark.

The film received a generally positive response from critics, who appreciated the amalgamation of the Western, biker, and vampire movie elements in Near Dark. But no one saw it.

Near Dark was made on a modest budget of around $5 million, but despite strong reviews and a now-cult reputation, it struggled commercially, earning only about $3.4 million at the domestic box office. When released in 1987, the film faced stiff competition and marketing challenges, especially as audiences gravitated toward more traditional vampire fare like The Lost Boys, which hit theaters that year with a flashier, youth-oriented appeal. Yet, its status as a cult classic grew over time.

In 2006, plans for a remake of Near Dark made headlines but were later abandoned due to its conceptual resemblance to Twilight. The shelved project was to be a collaboration between Rogue Pictures and Platinum Dunes, with Samuel Bayer set to direct.

Near Dark stands as a testament to the compelling blend of Western and vampire genres. Despite its initial box office performance, the film continues to captivate audiences and critics alike with its unique charm.