262: Near Dark (with special guest Street Tacos!)

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Episodes are about an hour long and focus on topics like:

  • What you can’t miss in Movies and TV

  • ‘So bad they’re good’ classics

  • Easter eggs other movie nerds missed

This week: Near Dark

In this Episode:

In this episode, Our Heroes discuss the 1987 film "Near Dark" with special guest Umba the Street Taco! We explore the film's resonance with the 80s vibe, and its appeal to the goth community. We also gush (blood) over its unique atmosphere as a love story and neo-western, and couldn't help but chuckle at the absence of Lost Boys saxophone music—a staple of the era!

The film's cast and Tangerine Dream soundtrack are covered, along with the upcoming 4K release. We touch on James Cameron's influence, Catherine Bigelow's direction, and the various sweet vehicles featured in the movie. The performances of Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Jeanette Goldstein receive praise, with a special mention of the chemistry among the cast and clever use of the Aliens crew as a cost saving chemistry shortcut.

We delve into the characters' individual stories, the film's cinematography, and its unconventional elements. Bigelow's unique style and the film's ahead-of-its-time nature are appreciated.

We share trivia, discuss the copious night shots, visual effects, and reflect on our initial reactions to the movie as teenagers. "Near Dark" is considered a highly recommended time capsule from 1987, noted for its character study, beautiful cinematography, and potential influence on the goth genre.

The episode concludes with our thoughts on the film's ambiguous ending and the possibility of a sequel.

Takeaways:

  • Near Dark perfectly captures the mood of the 80, and is a treasured film among goths.
  • The movie is a love story and a neo-western, with a unique atmosphere.
  • This movie was way ahead and takes a unique approach to vampires, focusing on their character development rather than traditional vampire tropes.
  • James Cameron had a significant influence on the production of Near Dark.
  • The use of the film DNA from 'Aliens' in 'Near Dark' allowed for strong chemistry among the cast.
  • The soundtrack by Tangerine Dream is praised for its seamless integration into the film and its ability to enhance the mood.
  • The production of was challenging, with 40 out of 47 shooting days taking place at night.

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