SPARKLING vampires and protective werewolves that overtook the psyche of Dubbo's younger generation is now at an end with the release of the last chapter of The Twilight Saga.
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Breaking Dawn - part two is the fifth and final film to chronicle the love triangle of Bella, Edward and Jacob, and was marked at Dubbo's Reading Cinemas with a midnight screening.
The global phenomenon has been inescapable in the four years since the first release, and Reading Cinemas' Dubbo complex manager Michael Wakelam said that was down to the fans.
"You have the same die-hard people who have read the books that will come to see it," he said.
"They're consistent, like Harry Potter fans... Twilight was smaller, but just as dedicated."
Dubbo's midnight screening was nearly a sell-out, with 230 excited fans out until the wee hours to be the first to see the end.
There were visitors from Mudgee, Gulgong and Dunedoo among a mix of teenagers and families in the crowd.
But what really appeals about Twilight to the fans themselves?
Carmen Appleby, who was there with her two daughters, saidwhile she appreciated the love story, she wanted to share something different in Dubbo with them.
"It's a special moment and they'll remember it," she said.
Nicole Brown was first in line with her 14-year-old son Zak, waiting for two-and-a-half hours.
"Zak's a boy who's into werewolves and vampires so it appeals to him... I only just read the books but I promised I would come," she said.
Team Edward Twihard Shanae Gosper, 13, attended with two friends and thought Bella and Edward's story was the biggest drawcard.
"The love story - I love the romance side, it's so sweet and romantic," she said.
On coming out of the cinema, Shanae felt no different and said the film held up to every expectation.
"It was shocking, but the best out of all of them," she said. Her friend Mairead Good, 14, was "mindblown".
"The acting's improved from Kristen Stewart, she actually has facial expressions now," she said.
Reading Cinemas could not provide figures for the saga's previous films or early takings for the new release nationally, but Mr Wakelam expected Breaking Dawn - part two to perform well.
"I think it'll make a little more than the last, especially because it's the last of the films," he said.
With Harry Potter and now Twilight done and dusted, what next for fans in Dubbo to cling on to?
"They'll have to come up with another set of books I guess," Mr Wakelam said.
katina.vangopoulos@ruralpress.com
TOMORROW: read the review in Weekend Xtra