This was the first film I watched in the cinema with my now wife. We had no idea going in what it was about. Let’s be honest, it’s not a great date movie. Written and starring Quentin Tarantino, maybe that should’ve been a clue, I was expecting blood, just not in this context. Before the monumental twist at the half way point, this is a down, dusty and dirty road movie in the uncultured southern states. Texas to be precise. There are no nice characters, but there are antiheroes. One being Seth (George Clooney), who along with his psychotic brother Richie (Tarrantino) is on the run, robbing, killing…and kidnapping. Which is where we meet Jacob (Harvey Keitel) and his kids Kate (Juliette Lewis) and Scott. He’s a pastor who’s lost faith, which is bad timing considering Seth wants his motor-home as a means of escaping to Mexico and specifically their rendezvous at The Titty Twister. A roadside bar that wouldn’t get planning permission in anywhere other than this film. It’s full of drunken scumbags ogling naked dancers who turn out to be… vampires! From Dusk Til Dawn is a batshit romp, a comedic b-movie horror that oddly turns out to be more than a sum of its parts. There’s nothing particularly clever about it and most of the characters are ridiculous, but it’s undeniably fun. Honestly though, as we arrive at the debauched establishment for the second half finale, I’m surprised we didn’t leave the cinema. Any promise of cinematic nuance goes right out the window. Even Salma Hayek is reduced to little more than a sex object, which considering how great she is it’s absolutely criminal. On the positive side though we’re introduced to Frost (Fred Williamson) and Sex Machine (Tom Savini). The names should indicate the tone here, but they’re more bad boys like Seth and soon to be on their side as Seth picks a fight and the whole bar including Razor (Danny Trejo) turn into the undead. Cue nearly an hour of OTT comic splatter. Heavy on the splatter, heavier on the comedy and that’s why this gets away with being so daft. It doesn’t take itself seriously and neither should any viewer. Forget about the plot holes, the cheesy dialogue. Embrace the rock n roll soundtrack and the badass insanity.
6/10
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