Near Dark was a good movie and I sincerely enjoyed it with
this first viewing. However, I want to take a moment to quickly revisit a topic
mentioned in this episode but not really explored. Conversationally it would
have most likely been flat but it is an idea I do want to emphasize. Which is a
mean spirited slasher along side a campy fun one. This is not to actually put
them against each other but rather just looking at the monumental difference in
viewer experience.
Slashers have never cashed in much on the basic horror
cinema tropes but one that could have been (and should have been more frequenly)
was sensory suspense. The Prowler does dive into this tactic which is why I
particularly love it. It takes a two fold attack of suspense and gore which
historically has been a rarity. Typically a slasher is littered with the
frivolity of care-free youth and crude laughs followed by a kill shot leaving
no responsibility to the viewer to actually be engaged. Additionally this
leaves no room for any actual fear or discomfort. Now, that’s fine as
entertainment if that’s what fans are looking for as they have the right to
just have fun if that is what they want. However, I applaud a movie like The
Prowler because it takes the mean spirited approach. There is no crutch being
leaned on for lame one-liners and pranks. There is a dark well paced stalk and
attack film here. This is one of the few times where a slasher film lets you
get your stress rising AND your imagination running. Your mind is expecting the
worst possible outcomes and then, like a fist to the face, the film actually delivers
that. The kills are startling brutal, but when one occurs we don’t get back to
the boy stealing the girl’s clothes at the lake, we get back to silence. We get
back to a prowling killer. It is relentless and at times a little tough to
stick with because you aren’t given that moment of the laughing exhale.
The Prowler is certainly not for everyone (talk to my co-host
Grizz) and I totally get why. This is not to diminish Terror Train in any way
either because at the end of the day I enjoy both a lot for very different
reasons. But I just think its fun to examine the very different attitudes that
slashers can embolden.
Have you seen either? If so, weigh in! We would love for our
social media to grow but we need you to help with that! Until next time…
Beware of the moon
The Professor
