Back in 1987 my generation was all about The Lost Boys (which I should get to in about a year), and I was the outsider who knew this was the superior vampire film. Kathryn Bigelow’s breakthrough is a neo-western Vampire movie with the most effective use of Bill Paxton in scenery chewing mode. The look is an impressive demonstration of Bigelow’s artistic talents, and there are a couple of sequences that could be used to teach how to put together shots to create a mood. I know because that’s exactly what I did in film school.
For those that know Near Dark, I’m talking about the bar scene, a ten-minute sequence that starts with the vampires backlit as they appear high on a hill. Cut to a pool table break as the vamps enter and the rest of the scene watches as they take on every living soul inside, one at a time. Paxton is the on-screen ringleader while Bigelow sustains the tension, capturing the sexy cool and creepy unease of vampire mythology. Also a memorable synth score by Tangerine Dream.
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