Bill Paxton is cool .. It's funny that he plays alongside Lance Henriksen who also played the role of the android Bishop in Aliens .. I don't know if he does a good role in Near Dark, but I really like his character in Aliens. :)
edit :
Lance's character "Bishop" I mean, not Bill Paxton's.
jackhammer
02-17-2009 12:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molecules
(Post 597949)
Near Dark is the sh*t, good review, 80's Bill Paxton is just the icing on the cake :thumb:
The best vampire movie you have never seen? Possibly. Definitely one of the most unique and leftfield vampire movies out there. The 80's saw a revival in the vampire movie with both 'The Hunger' and 'The Lost Boys' both putting a new spin on the tried and tested myth. Their downfall? They both look dated in terms of asthetics. This is where Near Dark triumphs. It has barely changed in over 20 years.
Near Dark succeeds on it's admirable lack of uneccessary exposition. The vampire condition is barely hinted at and instead we are exposed to the emotional aspect of vampirism- familial bonds, lack of physical love and isolation. It also succeeds with some oustanding visual effects. These are not neccessarily the effects draped in gore but the purely physical effects of sunlight on their bodies (typical vampire myths such as holy water and garlic are non existent in this film).
The film centers around Mae who, along with her 'family' ( a travelling band of amoral and violent vampires) stop off at a small town in Texas. A local man- Caleb is immediatedly smitten and on the star filled night is bitten by her but not 'bled'. Meaning that he could turn. The family has no choice but to adopt him into their clan and try to make him the character he needs to be in order to survive. His personal morals and his undying love for his family create a rift which has to end somehow.
The 'family' is superbly realised and Bill Paxton (Aliens) is simply superb as the psychotic Severen and some of his lines are classics. The bar massacre at 40.00 minutes onwards is a tour de force of jet black comedy and genuine menace.
Many other aspects make this film head and shoulders above many of it's ilk. The superb score by Tangerine Dream. The cinematography and Kathryn Bigelow's direction, which adds a little tenderness and pathos to the proceedings.
There is not a lot of gore in this film as it works on atmosphere and menace. It is all the more better for it. A classic film that has a little sweet centre running through it. Here is the (dated) trailer. I have the soundtrack too if anyone is interested :D
I love this film, its up there with my favourite vampire films. Atmospheric and foreboding, just how i like my horror
Old post is old post but I finally saw this movie tonight. I must say this might qualify as the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. It somehow manages to be both shocking yet intelligent. Rarely ever does a movie manage to both capture a visceral want for disgusting visuals and maintain enough intellect to be captivating on a more mentally stimulating level and this movie does both of those perfectly. The intensity of the film is amazing too. The tension builds at a fairly steady pace as you're barraged by a combination of gut wrenching despair and awe inspring hope throughout the entire film and each scene one ups the previous in absolute power. Both breath taking and moving, and the ending is just an absolute mind****. Just holy ****. Despite jackhammer's disclaimers and warnings I would recommend that everyone sees it now, it is the best movie ever.
David Cronenberg looks like one of the most unlikeliest Horror film directors ever. He is softly spoken, intelligent and articulate. He also broke through onto the international scene with Videodrome. A disturbing look at the desensitisation of media and the corruption it can have upon us. This film was made in 1982 and many of it's salient points about television (the television is the retina of the mind) and technology seem oddly prophetic in todays climate of the internet, mobile phones and E-mails making communication oddly impersonal.
Max Renn is a producer for a cable TV company who is looking for the next big thing. When his company recieve a pirate broadcast from a show called Videodrome he is immediately intrigued. The sadomasochist nature of the programme and it's low production values leads Renn into a nightmare world of masochistic sex (with Deborah Harry of 'Blondie' no less!), conspiracies, hallucinations, bodily transformations and right wing propoganda.
Videodrome is not a mere TV programme, it is here to seduce and corrupt. The hallucinations Renn suffers range from a vaginal opening in his stomach to the TV literally swallowing him. This is only half of the film though, although it does become over complicated at times, there is no doubt that it's an intelligent and provocative piece of work and quite unlike anything you have seen before, although The Matrix borrowed a lot from it's 'alternate reality' bent.
James Woods is superb in the main role and his nervous energy lends Renn an authentic and believable side even if he may be losing his mind.
If you want to be challenged mentally by a film as well as getting your fix of gore (there isn't a huge amount) then Videodrome is for you. One viewing is nowher near enough though. I have seen the film at least 10-15 times and there are still one or two things that has me perplexed but that's what good films do. They give you something different each time you view them.
Long live the new flesh.
Molecules
03-17-2009 08:08 AM
i'm holding off reading this for now because i know it's gonna end in me finding the movie and watching it and i have to get things done. But thanks in advance!
