From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Two criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in a truck stop populated by vampires, with chaotic results.

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writers:

Robert Kurtzman (story), Quentin Tarantino (screenplay)

Stars:

Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Juliette Lewis

5 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Clooney	...	Seth Gecko
Quentin Tarantino	...	Richard Gecko
Harvey Keitel	...	Jacob Fuller
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

Storyline

After a bank heist in Abilene with several casualties, the bank robber Seth Gecko and his psychopath and rapist brother Richard Gecko continue their crime spree in a convenience store in the middle of the desert while heading to Mexico with a hostage. They decide to stop for a while in a low-budget motel. Meanwhile the former minister Jacob Fuller is traveling on vacation with his son Scott and his daughter Kate in a RV. Jacob lost his faith after the death of his beloved wife in a car accident and quit his position of pastor of his community and stops for the night in the same motel Seth and Richard are lodged. When Seth sees the recreational vehicle, he abducts Jacob and his family to help his brother and him to cross the Mexico border, promising to release them on the next morning. They head to the truck drivers and bikers bar Titty Twister where Seth will meet with his partner Carlos in the dawn. When they are watching the dancer Santanico Pandemonium, Seth and Richard fight with ...

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Plot Keywords:

sex offender | vampire | rape victim | held hostage | u.s. mexico border | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

19 January 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Del crepúsculo al amanecer

Filming Locations:

Calico Dry Lake, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,240,805, 21 January 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,753,840

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, A Band Apart, Los Hooligans Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Titty Twister bar near the beginning, and near the end of the film when Seth Gecko (George Clooney) meets with Carlos the gangster (Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin), he is offered a beer. He's told by the vampire bartender and Carlos that he or they have Mexican and domestic. Since they're in Mexico, that means all they have is Mexican beer.

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Goofs

Once Satanico Pandemonium ends her show, there is a close up of Seth clapping his hands and saying "Now that's what I call a fucking show!" But in the next shot which is further away he is seen clapping his hands and mouthing the same thing again but no audio.

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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

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Crazy Credits

Ernest Liu's opening credit is run off the screen by Seth and Richard's car.

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Alternate Versions

Changes were made for the TV version, notably Titty Twister changed to Kitty Twister in dialogue and on the sign, and violence has been cut from when the strippers turn to vampires and when Seth beats up the door greeter.

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Connections

Spoofed in Ridskolan 2: Sexskolan (2003)

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Soundtracks

She's Just Killing Me
Written and Performed by ZZ Top

User Reviews

Crime/Horror

I loved this film for many reasons. For one, the switch from a crime thriller to a horror thriller was seamless. I for one had not heard much about this film before I watched it, and I assumed the TV Times were mistaken in called this a gory horror thriller. To me, it was a simple crime thriller, the norm which is expected from Tarantino's pen. However, the switch was such a shock and so fast, that I didn't now what happened I was amazed at this revelation, since there was no word of any horror topics beforehand in the script. It was completely out of the blue, and resulted in a pleasant surprise.

And the thing that's interesting is that BOTH halves to this film, both the crime section and horror section are enjoyable. The first half has less action, but tension does mount between Keitel and Clooney, while Tarantino is in the back, paying special attention to Keitel's daughter. A great premise with an equally great script in the first half. The second section is also great because of the horrific violence and as I heard mentioned before, the unique ways on how to kill vampires.

The script is witty and full of dark humour, "I have 6 little friends and they all run faster than you.", and the intro is certainly one of the best I have seen in months. The characters are well established, with Clooney as the 'gentleman' (well, not really) crook, Tarantino as his psychotic brother (who, strangely, I found difficult not to warm to) and Keitel is the preacher who has lost his faith, the hostage who will help out later when the satanic hordes unleash themselves.

A special mention must go to Salma Hayek for that special dance. ;) While this film was never made out of blockbuster material, it is still very understated, taking a unique and perhaps surreal viewing on the horror genre, all the while using horror stereotypes. As far as graphic violence is concerned, it is on par with the likes of Evil Dead (well, perhaps not THAT bad).

For once, this is a film which doesn't give the viewer all the answers beforehand. You are in the same boat as the characters and you don't know what's in store for them. If you hadn't seen this before, without any knowledge of the movie, you'd be in for a huge surprise as I was.

An 8/10 for it's script (thanks to Tarantino) and the actors who, while not trying too hard, make this an enjoyable horror flick with a difference.