Search - Near Dark [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Not For Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 09/10/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 1 hrs 34 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Horror, Chase Movie, Hybrid Western See Also: Near Dark, Near Dark [UMD for PSP], Near Dark, Near Dark [Blu-ray], Near Dark [Blu-ray]

In Kathryn Bigelow's tale of vampires in the American Southwest, the creatures of the night aren't elegant, cloaked aristocrats. They're a gun-toting gang that dresses and acts like a motorcycle gang. Caleb (Adrian Pasdar), a restless young man from a small farm town, meets an alluring drifter named Mae (Jenny Wright). She reveals herself to be a vampire, who "turns" Caleb into one of her kind rather than kill him. But the rest of her "family" is slow to accept the newcomer. The ancient leader, Jesse (Lance Henriksen), and his psychotic henchman Severen (Bill Paxton) lay down the law; Caleb has to carry his own weight or die. However, he can't bring himself to kill. He manages to win the gang's approval when he rescues them from certain death in a daytime gunfight during a spectacular motel shoot-out in which every bullet hole lets in a deadly ray of sunlight. When the vampires threaten Caleb's real family, he's forced to choose between life and death. The film avoids the complex vampire mythology of such films as Interview With the Vampire. Instead, it emphasizes the intense, seductive bond that forms between Caleb and the violent but tightly knit gang. Bigelow would later utilize this powerful dramatic device in her 1991 film Point Break. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide

Adrian Pasdar - Caleb Colton
Jenny Wright - Mae
Lance Henriksen - Jesse
Bill Paxton - Severen
Jenette Goldstein - Diamondback

Vampires roam the countryside in search of blood in director Kathryn Bigelow's '80s horror classic Near Dark. This two-disc set sports a first ever 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and looks fantastic. The dark, foreboding colors and solid black levels are all well saturated with only the slightest amount of dirt showing up in the image. Otherwise, this is an exceptional transfer by Anchor Bay which should please fans who have long waited for this film on DVD. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround as well as DTS Surround, both in English. Each of these soundtracks are very enveloping with surround sounds swirling around the viewer. Some of the directional effects sometimes sound forced, though mostly these are tight, taught mixes filled with creepy effects and effective music. All aspects of these mixes are free and clear of any hiss or distortion. Also included on this set is a Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround mix and English closed captions. Anchor Bay has pulled out all the stops to make this edition of Near Dark a great buy for fans. Starting off the second disc's special features is an informative commentary track by director Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow is a very intelligent speaker who has a lot to say about the production, casting, and story. This track is a must for any viewer wanting to know more about the film's history. "Living in Darkness" is a nearly hour-long documentary featuring all-new interviews with the director, producers Steven Charles Jaffe and Edward S. Feldman, director of photography Adam Greenberg, and actors Adrian Pasdar, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstein. This is a very comprehensive feature that should give viewers a lot of insight into the making of the film. Finally, there is a single deleted scene with optional commentary by the director, storyboard for five key sequences, two galleries with over 100 images, talent bios, theatrical trailers, and a booklet for fans to peruse through. All in all, this is an excellent first-ever DVD edition of Near Dark. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide