What: Part Western, part monster movie and part highway thriller, Near Dark, the 1987 cult classic directed by Kathryn Bigelow, aspires to be a lot of things, and it miraculously reaches most of its goals. Stark and stylish, this taut little low-budget gem revolves around a wandering band of vampires and the love-struck farm boy who must face off against them. Unique in that the film never mentions vampires and never offers a great deal of exposition, Near Dark takes off quickly and lets the audience fill in the imagined gaps. It's an engaging movie worthy of rediscovery.

cost: Single-disc DVD, $14.98 (Lions Gate)