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Near Dark

Play trailer Poster for Near Dark R 1987 1h 35m Horror Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Cowboy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) meets gorgeous Mae (Jenny Wright) at a bar, and the two have an immediate attraction. But when Mae turns out to be a vampire and bites Caleb on the neck, their relationship gets complicated. Wracked with a craving for human blood, Caleb is forced to leave his family and ride with Mae and her gang of vampires, including the evil Severen. Along the way Caleb must decide between his new love of Mae and the love of his family.
Near Dark

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Critics Consensus

Near Dark is at once a creepy vampire film, a thrilling western, and a poignant family tale, with humor and scares in abundance.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com As a kid, I was spellbound. As an adult, each revisit brings me new pleasures as I discover layers to Bigelow’s chilling horror masterwork I hadn’t noticed before. Rated: 4/4 Dec 1, 2022 Full Review Henry Sheehan Chicago Reader The film’s purgation of terror is as vital and energizing as can be possible. This is one hell of a movie. Rated: 3/4 May 10, 2022 Full Review Mike Daly The Age (Australia) An awkward blend of horror spoof and genuine shocker. Mar 26, 2021 Full Review Stephen A. Russell Orion's Shoulder (Substack) Near Dark fuses haunted poetry into its truck stop bones ... Caught halfway between farmyard dust and the traffic-light glare of insidiously encroaching industrialisation ... it’s low down and dirtier. Apr 19, 2025 Full Review Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap Kathryn Bigelow's grim "artsy vampire Western" didn't make a big splash with audiences at the time, but it's rightly now seen as one of the most influential horror films of its era. Rated: 4.5/5 Dec 9, 2024 Full Review Joshua Polanski Boston Hassle [Near Dark's] style so precisely matches the content that every directorial choice feels indelible. Jul 18, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jacob B A bit slow-paced but still a good blending of genres, Near Dark scores a ton of points for its atmosphere, mesmerising score from Tangerine Dream, a show-stealing, fun-to-quote-fron Bill Paxton and a then-revolutionary reinvention of vampires. One that apparently relies on the fact that, unlike The Lost Boys and Fright Night, vampires are a completely unknown supernatural entity in the world of Near Dark, meaning no pop culture references for young Adrian Pasdar to use to figure out what's happening to him. Yes, this film has a desert-style setting, fitting the Western influence, making it understandable that the characters are technologically backwards but I don't think that explains why the vampires are apparently humble enough to avoid using such words. While later vampire movies in similar settings might make younger viewers understandably confused over what the big deal is, if you take a "you had to have been there" mindset, you'll find Near Dark to be a moody film that goes for a more "realistic", decidedly unglamourous approach to vampires that demonstrates why Kathryn Bigelow would go on to be one of the most prominent female directors out there. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/18/25 Full Review J.D. O I’m not gonna say much, but Bill Paxton and Lance Hendrickson are the greatest vampires in cinematic history. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/12/25 Full Review Sam S Along with Lost Boys the same year, this was a pretty fresh take on vampires, although this is less glamorous and more stripped down. No castles or fancy outfits, just some nomads scavenging for what little life they can hold onto in the night. Paxton and Henriksen are standouts (there’s even a little Aliens easter-egg on a movie theater marquee). Unfortunately it goes downhill when the movie shifts into action/neo-western gear in the final half hour. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/09/25 Full Review Jen N Near Dark fuses haunted poetry into its truck stop bones ... Caught halfway between farmyard dust and the traffic-light glare of insidiously encroaching industrialisation ... it’s low down and dirtier. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/09/25 Full Review Jerod S It's a 80s western vampire vibe where country boy falls for vampire girl and getting back to his home family involves a lot of smoking vamp skin. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/20/25 Full Review John M Hands down one of the best vampire films of the last half century. This little masterpiece should have erased the highly over-rated "The Lost Boys" from public memory when it came out, but sadly got lost itself in the muddle of late 80's entries in the horror genre. Thankfully the home video market has resurrected this stunner, and it's reputation has only grown over the years as is only proper. Find a copy/ stream it, and settle down for a terrific horror classic with a brilliant cast and some amazing direction from the Oscar-winning Kathryn Bigelow. Like all the best films, you'll find yourself quoting lines from it in odd moments. As the late, great Bill Paxton says in the showpiece tavern scene, "FINger-LICKIN' good!" Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Near Dark

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Near Dark

Near Dark: Official Clip - You Could Kill Me If You Drink Too Much Near Dark: Official Clip - You Could Kill Me If You Drink Too Much 1:33 Near Dark: Official Clip - Bull's Eye! Near Dark: Official Clip - Bull's Eye! 2:15 Near Dark: Official Clip - Check-Out Time Near Dark: Official Clip - Check-Out Time 3:15 Near Dark: Official Clip - She's Mine Near Dark: Official Clip - She's Mine 1:51 Near Dark: Official Clip - Sunrise Burns Near Dark: Official Clip - Sunrise Burns 1:47 Near Dark: Official Clip - Finger-Lickin' Good! Near Dark: Official Clip - Finger-Lickin' Good! 2:38 Near Dark: Official Clip - Horses Just Don't Like Me Near Dark: Official Clip - Horses Just Don't Like Me 1:45 Near Dark: Official Clip - We Keep Odd Hours Near Dark: Official Clip - We Keep Odd Hours 1:44 Near Dark: Official Clip - Capturing Caleb Near Dark: Official Clip - Capturing Caleb 2:07 Near Dark: Official Clip - The Drink's on Me Near Dark: Official Clip - The Drink's on Me 3:29 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Cowboy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) meets gorgeous Mae (Jenny Wright) at a bar, and the two have an immediate attraction. But when Mae turns out to be a vampire and bites Caleb on the neck, their relationship gets complicated. Wracked with a craving for human blood, Caleb is forced to leave his family and ride with Mae and her gang of vampires, including the evil Severen. Along the way Caleb must decide between his new love of Mae and the love of his family.
Director
Kathryn Bigelow
Producer
Steven-Charles Jaffe
Screenwriter
Kathryn Bigelow, Eric Red
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Near Dark Joint Venture
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 2, 1987, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 7, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.5M
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Surround