Near Dark Review

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by dougotte

I watched the BD last night. I first saw it on VHS, then several times on the DVD. The BD is much darker. I think it's closer to the original intent, but it seemed too dark (I'm a fan of the recent Escape from NY and Last of the Mohicans BDs and think they look just fine). A lot of detail was crushed due to the dark contrast. However, the detail was still better than the DVD. Also, the sound seemed a bit boxy, but maybe that's due to the source elements. I don't remember the DVD sounding like it.

My one complaint about this Blu-ray transfer is that the picture does look too dark during a few key scenes. Early in the movie, in fact, when Caleb is staggering across the fields in the rising sun, with smoke coming off his body, it's difficult to see him below the horizon. The bar scenes were also quite dark. I have no idea if this was the filmmaker's intent, though, so I just rolled along with it.

A lot of people in this thread are complaining about waxy faces and DNR on this DVD, but I simply did not notice these flaws at all. Maybe it's just because I have a modest-size HDTV (32''), but I did not notice any DNR tampering to speak of, and the faces of the actors looked just fine to me.

This looks better than my previous DVD. Not miles and miles better, but it's still the best-looking version of this movie that I own.

[Fanboyz]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My one complaint about this Blu-ray transfer is that the picture does look too dark during a few key scenes. Early in the movie, in fact, when Caleb is staggering across the fields in the rising sun, with smoke coming off his body, it's difficult to see him below the horizon. The bar scenes were also quite dark. I have no idea if this was the filmmaker's intent, though, so I just rolled along with it.

A lot of people in this thread are complaining about waxy faces and DNR on this DVD, but I simply did not notice these flaws at all. Maybe it's just because I have a modest-size HDTV (32''), but I did not notice any DNR tampering to speak of, and the faces of the actors looked just fine to me.

This looks better than my previous DVD. Not miles and miles better, but it's still the best-looking version of this movie that I own.

Thats why.

[kemcha]

My bad. I didn't know those features were ported over. I picked up this Blu-ray when it was released for $8 and I watch it every now and then. It's those classics that you can't get enough of. But, I was disappointed that Lionsgate tried to produce the cover so that it resembled the "Twilight" Blu-ray cover.

[sukraj]

I dont think the transfer is up to par with simalar films in this genre but its still worth a watch.

[kemcha]

I agree. The quality may not be all that great but I still enjoy watching it from time to time.

[dougotte]

I'm glad I bought the BD for $7, and it's slightly better than the DVD, but I do wish we could have a new edition w/ a better transfer.

[dougotte]

Near Dark would be a nice candidate for a Scream Factory release, wouldn't it?

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by hostelmovies

I some how nabbed a copy of this from Wal*Mart today for $10.00.

The PQ is just about as good as it will ever get. Very solid. Very little grain. The opening scene with Caleb and May with the neon lights behind them is amazing for this being such an old movie. And the sound is also pretty solid but it has always had good sound. If you like this movie or vampire movies this is a must have for only $10.00.

PQ - 4 out of 5
SQ - 4 out of 5
Front Cover - 0 out of 5



Near Dark Blu-ray

Near Dark Blu-ray Review

I wish they'd used this:

or this:

No, it isn't. I doubt Near Dark will ever look stunning but this transfer is far from good enough and certainly not the best it could look. At the very least refraining from using DNR would've improved it's look by a lot.

The fact that there is basically no grain is part of why it's such a bad transfer. I've seen worse looking movies, but this isn't a bad looking movie by intention. It's the transfer that sucks.

The movie's age is irrelevant to how impressive it can look, but on the topic of it's age, you consider 1987 "such an old movie"? Have you not seen any of the restored classics and The Twilight Zone: The Original Series in particular? It looks better than most stuff being made today. Obviously the intended style and the conditions it was shot in mean it will never be ultra sharp but it's the laziness of those who did the transfer and disrespect to the original look that's the problem, not it's age.

I give it 2/5 and that's fair considering 2.5 is technically average. It looks better than the DVD, sure, but only marginally. Compression problems have been fixed up and the additional resolution mean's there's a slightly clearer look, but that's just not good enough for this great movie.

Hopefully it gets a new transfer eventually. The cover art is seriously so bad that it's put me off wanting to watch it a few times I've sort of been in the mood for rewatching it. I may have to get a custom cover until a new release comes out.

[beadelf]

hopefully it gets a restoration and all the extra's from the amazing 2 disc dvd!!!

otherwise ill stick with my dvd

[sukraj]

Originally Posted by beadelf

hopefully it gets a restoration and all the extra's from the amazing 2 disc dvd!!!

otherwise ill stick with my dvd

i think ur better off with ur dvd bruv.

[HDvision]

Same DP as Terminator and T2. This should look like the recent Terminator Blu-ray does. It doesn't.

I suspect they will change the sleeve to make it look like Zero Dark Thirty or The Hurt Locker, and remarket it before they fix the transfer thought.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by beadelf

hopefully it gets a restoration and all the extra's from the amazing 2 disc dvd!!!

otherwise ill stick with my dvd

As pointed out a few posts up, all of the extras are ported over. I'd say it's worth $4.99 (when it drops back down to that price again) for the (extremely minor) PQ upgrade, and definitely worth $4.99 for those who don't already own the film at all, but I wouldn't pay much more than that.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by beadelf

hopefully it gets a restoration and all the extra's from the amazing 2 disc dvd!!!

otherwise ill stick with my dvd

All it's missing are the still galleries, story boards and dvd-rom screenplay. It's not like they stripped this like Anchor Bay or Mill Creek, the important stuff is here! That said, I still have my dvd for the awesome cover art, that's worth more to me than a few bucks I'd get selling it.

[dsman71]

I own the Blu Ray - the DVD has better packaging, and the transfers are more or less identical..
Get the Blu Ray for shelf space if you want

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

As pointed out a few posts up, all of the extras are ported over. I'd say it's worth $4.99 (when it drops back down to that price again) for the (extremely minor) PQ upgrade, and definitely worth $4.99 for those who don't already own the film at all, but I wouldn't pay much more than that.

I thought there was no PQ upgrade? Wasn't this one of the titles that were heavily DNR'ed?

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

I thought there was no PQ upgrade? Wasn't this one of the titles that were heavily DNR'ed?

Yes, that's why I had the 'extremely minor' qualifier - any improvement on the DVD would only be on a slight technical level, from going from SD to HD (although there has been some speculation that this is merely an upconvert - that's how little detail and grain there is). The transfer itself shows mild improvement with regard to colors in daytime sequences, but is otherwise very disappointing. Again though, it is a great film and includes all of the extras, so for $4.99 anyone who doesn't own it all should definitely buy it, although those who already have the DVD shouldn't feel too pressed to upgrade.

[The Great Owl]

My guess is that we will not see a better-looking transfer of this movie anytime soon. I could be wrong, though, because I'm always surprised at what obscure movies are coming out of the woodwork with pristine Blu-ray transfers.

For now, this one is inexpensive and it looks better than the DVD. It's the bottom of the barrel in my collection as far as Blu-ray transfers go, but it still looks better than the DVD.

If you have never seen Near Dark, then I highly recommend at least a rental. This is one of the forgotten jewels of the 1980s, and the inclusion of The Cramps - "Fever" is icing on the cake.

[benricci]

Not for nothing, but I saw a midnight screening of Near Dark in October on 35mm and it looked like ass, too. The VHS looked liked this, as disc the old laserdisc.

My powers of deduction are telling me that lousy-looking source material could be a big part of the issue...