An escapee named Johnny Madrid (Marco Leonardi) from the 1900's who got away from his sacrifice along with kidnapping the hangman's daughter Esmeralda (Ara Celi) as they all meet up with Johnny's gang and rob a stagecoach which contains American author Ambrose Bierce (Michael Parks) along with newlywed couple John (Lennie Loftin) and Mary Newlie (Rebecca Gayheart).
They are left stranded in the desert as they take refuge in an isolated inn whorehouse as Johnny's gang enters there too.
A priestess there by the name of Quixtla (Sonia Braga) seems to flirt with John as well as being very interested in Esmeralda as she becomes a prime target the inn.
Later on everyone discovers that the area is run by vampires and Esmeralda is discovered that she is only half human and the princess of the vampires and her name was originally Santanico Pandemonium whom the vampires want as their heir. Suddenly, Johnny and all the other survivors become allies and join forces if they are to survive the night before becoming victims to these vampires as well as them changing into one themselves.

The film is a little rushed like in the very beginning with the hangings but he seems to bring it down at times. A not too bad shot on Ambrose Bierce striking Catherine Reece in the old western town. There's also good shots on people getting the rope ready to hang someone.
A good menacing moments with the Hangman really acting nasty and whipping Johnny Madrid and then towards Esmeralda which is hard to look at since she's his daughter. It made me wonder if he will hang her as well.

I watch carefully while watching each second as to what will happen to Johnny as to whether or not his sacrifice will succeed.
Great battling moments with Johnny in fast whipping action using his shoes that have blades sticking out by killing others attacking him as well as nice gunfighting actions too. This looked very original and creative as a weapon.

While Johnny and his gang is in another end of the ghost town he spots a tomboy Catherine checking out his gun and Johnny himself strikes her which looked a bit intense to watch an innocent kind being attacked. It was well focused.
Catherine looked rather amusing when she wants to be a part of his gang but at the same time looked a wee over the top.

The gang robs a stagecoach wagon as this looked perfectly intense to watch the outcomes here adding some violence towards the main navigator Amborse Pierce in which it looked convincing as to how he was attacked and so fourth along with the newlywed couple.

Johnny viciously manipulates Catherine into hanging herself. While I watched this it made me wonder or not as if she will do so. Plus it made me wonder as if she will suffocate to death. The moments here looked intense and still with each piece as to what was done here.

Meanwhile we go back to the newlyweds and Ambrose struggling through the sandy desert and complaining as it offers some dry humor here but not overly funny during the same time.

Alot of this was dull to watch and it made me wonder as to when the terrors hit since most of what was going on so far a total time waster nearly making this flick below average but it does pick up trust me.

Dusk breaks with all of these people in the desert and find in the middle of nowhere an inn which says from dusk till dawn as this looked chilling thinking it's that exact place where the vampires roam which was a nice touch to what will occur later on.

While everyone goes into the hotel it doesn't look as what it's cracked up to be and we spot our well known bartender Razor Charlie whom gets a mysterious woman Quixtla escorting the newlyweds John and Mary to their rooms. This employee is mysterious which left me a hunch that she's a vampiress which was well put into this scene.
Things do look effective when they are in the hallway to their room which looks like a partying whorehouse. These moments looked perfectly sharp and well done.
A nice reaction on Mary and John after spotting a bat in their room panicking.

After an argument John storms out of his room in which Quixtla gets tempting towards him. This was well concentrated and perfectly done into the story. I had a feeling that he will turn into a vampire as well as nice camera shots on her with her eyes looking vampric too. A classic moment for sure.

Many good shots on people like the bartender we all know from the first flick by licking some blood that is spotted along with some vampiress' too. Another well focussed scene.
A nice shot on a vampire biting a horse and drinking it's blood then turns his head with a vicious smile.
Good shots on people turning into vampires and going on a killing spree.

We spot a hilarious scene with Ezra ballroom dancing with Mary Lewlie in a black and white setting which made me laugh pretty good.
A great moment with Mary showing her vampiress side and being vulgar down near a cellar.

There's a good brief discussion between the Hangman and Catherine holding torches as to why she killed her family while trying to find a way of escaping.
We have a very nice moment with Quixtla towards Esmeralda on who her grandmother is as well as performing a ceremony as all of this looks very gothic like.

A nice battle with a group of people battling off some bats. Then another great still moment on John Lewlie looking for someone and then a vampire taking him by surprise by attacking him which really makes you jump.

The last moments looked energetic with a couple of the survivors managing to escape when dawn breaks along with people like Mary insisting for them to come back and acting vicious. This was impressive to a near end of a vampire tale.

Bottom line is that this is a prequel to the original has a good amount of taste but it is a little rushed and not enough of a strong plot in some areas like the beginning of the movie when the head criminal Johnny Madrid plans to get hung but it does get interesting when they go to the bar and having a lustful vampiress along with the terrors that starts to occur.

The acting is failry passable for what is was. Marco Leonardi (Johnny Madrid) seems to do fine playing a bad ass criminal in the film as he shows some decent aggression to his part in it. He was great with his vicous commanding and was great springing into action when he attacks someone.

Michael Parks (Ambrose Bierce) had the slick and outgoing persona for his role with a believable cocky attiude. Spoke well with his words too. Definetly shows off a good intelligence to what he was discussing. He was for sure a true character actor.

Temuera Morrison (The Hangman) brings his part as the hangman across quite nicely with his sneering attitude. He for sure knew on how to get into your face with his cold blooded behavior. Had the right nasty looks and appeal which was a nice plus to the story.

Rebecca Gayheart (Mary Lewlie) is full of character in her role as the newlywed wife and really knew how to come across once being a vampiress with her evil and vulgar attitude.

Ara Cell (Esmeralda / Santanico Pandemonium) is very impressive as an innocent one in the film that runs away with the escapee. She had the right motive as a good girl type of behavior and sharp with her speaking too.

Lennie Loftin (John Lewlie) shows the best energy with his role as the newlywed husband showing fantastic aggression when needed in certain scene's. He's great by showing his violent actions at the bar. Also had a good hyped up behavior too.

Sonia Braga (Quixtla) was the most remembered in the film as the vampiress with her lusty behavior and smooth talking. Was good acting flirtatiously towards her fellow actor with her soothing voice and actions. Also does well by licking someone's wounds and caressing her as it looks very vampiress like.

Danny Trejo (Razor Charlie) shows more aggression than ever with his role as the typical vampire bartender with his solid expressions. Also shows a bigger presence than in the first two which he struts his stuff greatly.

Jordana Spiro (Catherine Reece) offered an effective performance in her supporting role which was one of the best performers here. Shows it off with her curiosity as well as being annoying and hyper which she brought to life. Plus offered a believable wimpy behavior to top it all off. Yes she did it all with a decent style.

Many whores expose their breasts in people's rooms or in the bar.

A stage coach's head is blown off.
A horse is bloodily bitten.
A guy is stabbed in the mouth.
Many vampires biting and tearing people apart.
Stakes are driven in people's hearts.
A head is sliced off.
A vampiress is stabbed by metal bars and burns to a crisp.

There's a nice spanish soundtrack by groups like Los Pregoneros del Puerto, Los Camperos de Nati Cano as they make the music sound suitable to the story with the accoustic guitar playing for the western moments in the desert and other areas like that. Plus some effective metal screeching sounds too which works in the certain scenery.

Johnny Madrid: Do you feel like a horse's ass, huh? 'Cause that's what you look like! The horse's ass pendeja!

John Newlie: Water, then?
Razor Charlie: Tequila!
Ambrose Bierce: That's my queue. Two bottles of your very finest. Thank you. Milk, indeed.

The Hangman: You killed your mother and father? Why?
Catherine Reece: They were starvin', there was no food, so I sent 'em to a better place.
The Hangman: What about your aunt, your uncle, and all your cousins?
Catherine Reece: I never liked them.