Comments on: NEAR DARK (1987) (**) http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/2007/04/13/near-dark-1987/ Movie Reviews from a Different View Thu, 17 May 2012 22:24:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU by: ricksflickspicks http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/2007/04/13/near-dark-1987/#comment-2157 Tue, 29 May 2007 14:03:48 +0000 http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/2007/04/13/near-dark-1987/#comment-2157 Though they didn't directly say they were vampires, it's pretty obvious what myth they are playing off of. Even more subtly the film is playing off cowboy myths as well. The showdown in Main Street. The bar fight. The siege of the hotel by the cops. These are all classic Western conventions. Likewise, I never cared about any of the characters, because it never took the time to set them up. What was Caleb's relationship with his family like before being forced into the gang? Before being forced to join the gang, what was Caleb doing with his life? Why was he bored with his life? These are all questions I had that the film never established. Plus, Caleb being forced into the gang is not nearly as dramatic as him joining freely and then reconsidering that decision. That's what makes LOST BOYS work better. I'm not saying it was a total waste of time, but I just think that it could have been a lot better. Though they didn’t directly say they were vampires, it’s pretty obvious what myth they are playing off of. Even more subtly the film is playing off cowboy myths as well. The showdown in Main Street. The bar fight. The siege of the hotel by the cops. These are all classic Western conventions.

Likewise, I never cared about any of the characters, because it never took the time to set them up. What was Caleb’s relationship with his family like before being forced into the gang? Before being forced to join the gang, what was Caleb doing with his life? Why was he bored with his life? These are all questions I had that the film never established.

Plus, Caleb being forced into the gang is not nearly as dramatic as him joining freely and then reconsidering that decision. That’s what makes LOST BOYS work better.

I’m not saying it was a total waste of time, but I just think that it could have been a lot better.

]]> by: Jace http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/2007/04/13/near-dark-1987/#comment-2134 Mon, 28 May 2007 08:54:59 +0000 http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/2007/04/13/near-dark-1987/#comment-2134 i think Near Dark was great fun. It wasn't mixing cowboys and vampires at all. It just happens to take place in the southwest and i take note that they never once said the word "vampire" (though it is certainly implicated). i felt this film deserved more attention and a better rating. It was eclipsed in the box office by The Lost Boys (which was also great fun, but more direct about being fun, where Near Dark is... well... dark humour and the violence was more direct). Try it again, Rick :-) i think Near Dark was great fun. It wasn’t mixing cowboys and vampires at all. It just happens to take place in the southwest and i take note that they never once said the word “vampire” (though it is certainly implicated). i felt this film deserved more attention and a better rating. It was eclipsed in the box office by The Lost Boys (which was also great fun, but more direct about being fun, where Near Dark is… well… dark humour and the violence was more direct).

Try it again, Rick :-)

]]>