From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writers:

Robert Kurtzman (story)
Quentin Tarantino (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A terrifying evil has been unleashed. And five strangers are our only hope to stop it.

Plot:

Two criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in an establishment populated by vampires, with chaotic results.

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Mexico | Fugitive | On The Run | Vampire

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	Jacob Fuller
George Clooney	...	Seth Gecko
Quentin Tarantino	...	Richard Gecko
Juliette Lewis	...	Kate Fuller
Ernest Liu	...	Scott Fuller
Salma Hayek	...	Santanico Pandemonium
Cheech Marin	...	Border Guard / Chet Pussy / Carlos
Danny Trejo	...	Razor Charlie
Tom Savini	...	Sex Machine
Fred Williamson	...	Frost
Michael Parks	...	Texas Ranger Earl McGraw
Brenda Hillhouse	...	Hostage Gloria Hill
John Saxon	...	FBI Agent Stanley Chase
Marc Lawrence	...	Old Timer Motel Owner
Kelly Preston	...	Newscaster Kelly Houge

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language and nudity.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Ireland:(Banned) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Belgium:KNT | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 (re-rating) | France:-16 (original rating) | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 (re-rating) (2004) | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (1998) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Poland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #34314) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Salma Hayek did not have a choreographer for her dance. Director Robert Rodriguez just told her to feel the music and dance to it. Rodriguez would later use the same tactic with Jessica Alba in Sin City (2005).

Goofs:

Continuity: The page of the magazine that the store clerk is reading.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pete Bottoms: Hey, Earl
Earl McGraw: Yes, sir.
Pete Bottoms: What do ya know?
Earl McGraw: Well, it's a hot goddam day

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kai Rabe gegen die Vatikankiller (1998)

Soundtrack:

Texas Funeral

"This is my kind of place!"

Foul-mouthed, hot-tempered criminal Seth Gecko (George Clooney) and his disgusting, idiotic brother Richie (played by writer Quentin Tarantino) leave a trail of bodies in their wake as they head for Mexico. They take a vacationing family (Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Ernest Liu) hostage and arrive at their intended rendezvous point: a phenomenally seedy, sleazy bar called "The Titty Twister." Before long, they have learned the truth about the bar: all the staff are vampires who regularly prey on the customers.

While the excesses of this movie are too much for conservative folk (and especially film critics), this action-packed, spectacularly gory movie was fun for me; it's like being in an intense, gruesome haunted house ride. The cast is enjoyable; it's particularly noteworthy that Tarantino and director/editor Robert Rodriguez chose an interesting, off-the-wall collection of performers, including former "blaxploitation" star Fred Williamson, makeup effects expert Tom Savini (as a biker named "Sex Machine"!), and veteran movie heavy Marc Lawrence. It also provides an amusing showcase for Cheech Marin, who plays three small roles.

The visual/makeup/creature effects design is impressive, although I must repeat that this movie is more for hardcore horror fans and some of you may find it repulsive (and pointless).

However, I say good job! I give it eight out of ten!