Near Dark

Caleb Colton, a young farmer with a stubborn streak, thinks his life is ordinary until a wanderer named Mae drifts into town. Their chance encounter sparks more than curiosity: Mae belongs to a clan of vampires who haunt the roads in stolen cars. Drawn by Mae's magnetic pull and a hunger he never imagined, Caleb finds himself pulled into their nocturnal world, where trust is scarce. The group moves between highways, raiding fuel and meals while avoiding sunlight and the authorities. Caleb's stubborn grit clashes with the clan's brutal code, and he must decide how far he will go to protect Mae, even as danger closes in. Caleb's choices ripple through life, redefining courage and family for himself and Mae.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow from an original screenplay co written with Eric Red, Near Dark arrived in 1987 as a bold fusion of western and vampire horror. The desert setting and practical effects create a stark, kinetic mood upon release.

Near Dark earned a place as a cult favorite, noted for merging a roadside vampire myth with outlaw camaraderie. Its look and tone influenced later horror road movies and Westerns, while Paxton and Henriksen left a lasting imprint on the archetype of its undead anti heroes in horror fans worldwide.

This film looks at desire and loyalty through a gritty, violent lens. Caleb's loyalties are tested as the vampire clan's ruthlessness clashes with his own sense of responsibility, creating a bleak story about survival that never white washes the cost of predation and the toll it takes on ordinary people.

Box office revenue for Near Dark was about 3.4 million worldwide against a 5 million budget, reflecting its modest release but later cult appeal, especially as it found a larger audience through home video and word of mouth among collectors.