Near Dark, one of the most underrated vampire movies ever made, could be on track to become a TV series. The 1987 neo-Western, starring Bill Paxton, is widely considered a seminal work in the vampire genre, and an essential film byAcademy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow. The project is reportedly being eyed by independent film studio A24, as part of their expansion into the television medium.
Industry scoop specialist Jeff Sneider is reporting through “The Insneider” that A24 could be picking up a TV adaptation of the classic (via Film Stories). Sneider is also teasing Bigelow’s participation in the series. Originally, the film followed Caleb Colton, a young man from a rural town who gets bitten by a beautiful girl and is forced to join a pack of traveling vampires. The plot synopsis goes as follows:
A small-town farmer’s son reluctantly joins a traveling group of vampires after he is bitten by a beautiful drifter.
The 12 Best Movie and TV Show Vampire Performances of All Time
Not everyone should be a bloodsucker, and this is proven by this fine selection of the best vampires in film and TV.
Bigelow, famous for her work onThe Hurt Locker(for which she won Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture) andZero Dark Thirty, has stayed out of the spotlight since 2017’sDetroit. Her next film is a political thriller starring Idris Elba, which is set to be released by Netflix sometime in the future.
A24 is still relatively new to the TV format, having produced shows likeRamy,Beef, andThe Curse. ANear DarkTV series could be part of their objective to revive classic horror IPs, as they’re also backing the revival ofFriday the 13thwitha prequel series titledCrystal Lake.
Near Darkstars Paxton along with Jenette Goldstein, Lance Henriksen, Jenny Wright, Adrian Pasdar, and Joshua John Miller, among others. Upon release, it was well-received (it still holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes), and eventually, it became a cult classic. Even though the box office performance was below expectations,Near Darkis regarded asone of the best executionsof the vampire subgenre of horror.
Are We Going Through a Vampire Renaissance?
Approximately two years ago, films likeRenfieldandThe Last Voyage of the Demeterpresented audiences with two extremely different approaches to the Dracula lore. Despite not being very successful, they proved that Universal Pictures was still willing to bet on the horror subgenre. Smaller films like Netflix’sEl Condeand Universal’sAbigailwere better received, and they were undeniable proof that the genre was in need of a spin.
Such a spin didnotarrive with Robert Eggers' most recent film. 2024’sNosferatuwas extremely ambitious—a critically acclaimed, scary movie that didn’t change the rules at all, and instead kept all the tropes of the Gothic classic that blends romance and horror. Nevertheless, it received a few nods at the Academy Awards, and the critical reception was excellent.
Nosferatu’s results were a great precedent for this year’s notable vampire film. Ryan Coogler’sSinnersis theultimate vampire movie—a radical twist that didn’t feature the usual Gothic backdrop, but still complied with the rules of the genre. It will surely land more than a few nominations.
It’s all part of a vampire renaissance. An unexpected horror milestone that will only get stronger if the TV version ofNear Darkends up happening. At the same time,Buffy the Vampire Slayerwill return for more adventures in hunting bloodsuckers. And if you’re into the weird B-side of the vampire subgenre, just wait for Panos Cosmatos’Flesh of the Gods. The movie stars Oscar Isaac, Kristen Stewart, and Elizabeth Olsen, and it is certain to make a few heads turn.
