From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

   
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez

Executive Produced & Written by: Quentin Tarantino

Starring:

Harvey Keitel .... Jacob Fuller
George Clooney .... Seth Gecko
Quentin Tarantino .... Richard Gecko
Juliette Lewis .... Kate Fuller
Ernest Liu .... Scott Fuller
Salma Hayek .... Santanico Pandemonium
Tom Savini .... Sex Machine
Fred Williamson .... Frost
Danny Trejo .... Razors Charlie
Cheech Marin .... Border Guard/Chet Pussy/Carlos

Special Appearances:

Michael Parks .... Texas Ranger Earl McGraw
John Saxon .... FBI Agent Stanley Chase
Kelly Preston .... Newscaster Kelly Hodge

Release Date: Theatrical: January 19, 1996

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rating:

 

Two sibling outlaw criminals known as the Gecko Brothers named Seth (George Clooney) and his sex crazed younger brother Richard (Quentin Tarrantino) go on a wild crime spree.
They kidnap a widower father named Jacob (Harvey Keitel) and his two kids Kate (Juliette Lewis) and Scott (Ernest Liu).
They all head south to Mexico where the Gecko brothers force them to go to Mexico at a trashy private strip bar that is in service from dusk till dawn for truckers and bikers to hideout from the police and wait for a few of their people.
While they are there a riot breaks out and realise that the pub is really a tomb run by vampires.
They are all trapped there and one by one are bitten and turned uinto vampires themselves including Seth's brother.
However, Jacob is an ex-preacher and tries to help the rest survive this hellish place.

 

This film is a great piece of work which really starts off nicely proving it to be a worthy Quentin Tarrantino flick with the characters Seth and Richard as two sibling thieves holding a woman for hostage and robbing a store near a desert with lots of gun fighting action too since that's what most of his types are all about during a beginning of his kinds of action packed films full of violence. A real classic written in is when Seth and Richard walk away from the store after they killed everyone having a discussion and it explodes with them ignoring by all that's happening offering some good comedic timing.
There's more nice moments with Seth and Richard holding this hostage in their hotel room and later on Richard offers her to sit and watch TV with him which doesn't look like a good idea of what he has in mind for her and then later on the horrible incident does happen.
There's more though with a family grieving a family death while travelling staying at the same hotel and then are kidnapped which alot of this looks disturbing on what they plan to do with this innocent family. It makes you think to yourself as what if this happens to one of you and your family coming across with the wrong people. But then they are hijacked on their travelling mobile which makes things worst and you think to yourself that they will never be let go alive even if they say they will since that's a classic one liner on criminals lying to the innocent one's.
I also enjoyed the moment when everyone was pulled over before crossing the border to Mexico making you wonder on how these two cirminals will hide from them since this moment was incredibly mysterious and tense wondering if there will be any gun murders due to what these nasty brothers promise that they will do.
Yet while they cross the border there's a great rush of adrenaline making you want to be a part of this to anyone who enjoys going on trips down there which has some descent writing with Seth getting excited about it all.
Plus alot of flashy scenarios when they enter the front of a truckers and bikers titty bar with many neon lightning and fire blazing in their air with great humor by a mexican host talking about pussy offering alot of toilet humor. This scene really makes you want to jump in as well going to this bar since it seems to be the best in the world while going on a holiday in Mexico.
There's more great one liners with the bartneder there acting vicious towards Seth and Richard not being truckers or bikers which totally reminds you as one of those bad ass employees at a joint not making you wanted and feeling intimidated that a riot is going to break out.
Then the two thugs hang out with the family they kidnap drinking booze which really gives you a feel of enjoyment thinking to yourself that if you were kidnapped why not get kidnapped by them and have a fun time?
There's lots of good tongue in cheek with truckers and bikers having brief disputes as well as strippers dancing around them too and different types of interactions on everything.
With all of this you wonder where the horror is going to come into all of this but suddenly something goes wrong with riots happening caused by Seth and Richard then the employees there all turn into vampires and attack which looked awesome to watch all of this. We even see a band playing with a corpse for an instrument which looked a bit silly I must admit. There's good struggles especially the family having sympathy for Seth choosing to kill his borther after he turns into a vampire himsel. Plus there's great discussions on them not believing in vampires until now and finding out the tales on how to stop them as this really blended in for the fun on surviving from vampires. Plus alot of touching moments with the father named Jacob forcing his kids to kill him after he turns once he was bitten which makes it a sad choice to your loved one's.
There's also a great ending scene with Seth making out that he's not such a bad guy towards the innocent daughter he kidnapped along the way named Kate. I thought that part was really cool but I won't spoil it out to anyone who hasn't seen this one yet.
Bottom line is that I love alot of Tarrantino films as they involve gangsters etc and usually puts alot of action in the plots of his films. This was in great taste and a great summer vampire movie. We get some comedy, action and terror all wrapped into one.

The acting is superb as George Clooney (Seth) lived to play this role and is truly intimidating as his role a nasty thief in which he brings out an outrageous attitude with his slick and stern speaking just having a no bullshit type of attitude alonjg with a perfect manipulative and forceful behavior to anyone that he crosses. He also threw in some great punches whenever he got physical too. A great demanding attitude by him in a scene towards a supporting actress as the hostage telling her what to do when he is in a motel. A great shameful expressionless look on his face after when he spots what has happened to the hostage. Nice blocking with him by punching his fellow actor as well as him putting a gun in someone else's mouth. Was full of energy when he starts to shoot his gun in the bar and being threatening as the terror starts. A good discussion with him convincing his fellow actor to keep his faith for the battle with great attitude and energy. Was great with his onscreen mafia partner as to why they set a meeting at that pub which was quite impressive and funny and showing perfect disappointing reactions to all of this.
Quentin Tarrantino
(Richard) also knew how to portray the sibling part well with his sex crazed behavior too. He had a soft speaking and disturbed type of immature attitude in his role as someone who is kinda geeky and follows what his brother does not being very intelligent with everything. He made all of this believeable in which he should have since he wrote this screenplay. He brings some good humor into some of the stuff he did as well.
Harvey Keital
(
Jacob Fuller) was doing a good job as a down and out preacher losing his faith as he really showed a nice still attitude to his role. He shows a good laid back behavior as well as really bringing on some good intelligence to what he did bringing everything together. He had the right looks too to play a retired preacher and family man too.
I always loved Juliette Lewis' (Kate Fuller) performances ever since I saw her in What's Eating Gilbert Grape as she really knew how to act caring in the film. She brings a nice softness to her speaking as a typical girl next door type of attitude which makes her role very likeable and fairly outgoing too.
We also get a supporting role by horror make-up artist Tom Savini (Sex Machine) as a sleazy tough guy who has great timing with his part in it. He shows nice dark comedic performances with all that he did and yet showed a Mr. Nice guy type of behavior when he tries to help the other survive the madness. We have terrific blocking performed by him with his whips and other devices battling out an onscreen bartender. He proved that he is a telented actor than just a make up artist and wearing many hats to whatever that he does. What a treat!
Plus many cameos and special appearances including 3 different roles by pothead comedian Cheech Marin which all of them were well remembered.
I loved his part introducing the titty bar in which he really got into it with his sleazy cmeodic timing. He was probably the most remembered one in the cast for doing this incident.

Many strippers in a club are topless dancing.

Plenty of gore in the film for all you gorehounds.
Heads are ripped off and so are legs plus an arm.
When a vampiress is killed her eyes explode and her skin melts.
Body pieces are laying around.
A vampire's heart is ripped out of his chest.

The music is greatly composed by Graeme Revelle with lots of fast paced classical music along with alot of heavy drumbeats during the vampire attacks. We also hear the odd chanting sounds since it seems to be a tradition to most vampire films too as it flows quite well.

Also there's a great soundtrack which suits a Tarrantino film with old and current artists like Tito & Tarantula, The Mavericks, The Leftovers, ZZ Top, Jimmie Vaughn, Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble, Joe Wayne and the Blasters.

Seth: I know that I have put you through hell, and I know that I have been one rough pecker. But from here on, you are all in my cool book.

Seth: I may be a bastard, but I'm not a fucking bastard.

Seth: All right, vampire killers... let's kill some fucking vampires.

Seth: Everybody be cool. YOU - be cool.

Seth: So, what's the deal with you two, you a couple of fags?
Jacob: He's my son.
Seth: Yeah, how'd that happen? You don't look Japanese.
Jacob: Neither does he. He looks Chinese.
Seth: Oh, well pardon me all to hell.

Pete Bottoms: Look, he comes in here everyday. We bullshit, and he's used my bathroom about a thousand times. If I said no this time he'd know somethin' was up.
Seth: Okay, I want him out of here, in his car, and down the road or you can change the name of this place to Benny's World of Blood.

Earl McGraw: Well, it's been one long goddamn hot miserable shit-ass fuckin' day every inch of the way.

Seth: Well, your best better get a hell of a lot fucking better, or you are gonna feel a hell of a lot fucking worse.

Richie: The Ranger's taking a piss. Why don't I just go there, blow his head off and get outta here.
Pete Bottoms: Don't do that! Look, you asked me to act natural, and I'm acting as natural - in fact, under the circumstances, I think I ought get a fuckin' Academy Award for how natural I'm acting.

Sex Machine: So what's your name, darlin'?
Kate: Kate. What's yours?
Sex Machine: Sex Machine, pleased to meet you.

[Richard day-dreaming]
Kate: Richie, would you do me a favor and eat my pussy for me... please?
Richie: Uhh... sure.

[On his impending vampirization]
Jacob: I'll be a lap dog of Satan.

Kate: What's going on?
Richie: We're having a wet bikini contest, and you just won.

Seth: [talking to Jacob Fuller about his wife's death in a car crash] Died instantly?
Jacob: Not quite. She was trapped in the wreck for about six hours before she passed on.
Seth: Whewww! Those acts of God really stick it in and break it off, don't they?

Richie: Where are my glasses?
Seth: They broke when you fell.
Richie: Oh, fuck, Seth, that's my only pair!
Seth: Don't worry about it, we'll get you some glasses.
Richie: Whatdya mean, don't worry about it. Of course I'm gonna worry about it, I can't fuckin' see.
Seth: When we get to El Rey, I'll take care of it.
Richie: Yeah, like a Mexican hole-in-the-wall's gonna have my fuckin' prescription.

Chet Pussy: Pussy, pussy, pussy! All pussy must go. At the Titty Twister we're slashing pussy in half! This is a pussy blow out! Make us an offer on our vast selection of pussy! We got white pussy, black pussy, Spanish pussy, yellow pussy, hot pussy, cold pussy, wet pussy, tight pussy, big pussy, bloody pussy, fat pussy, hairy pussy, smelly pussy, velvet pussy, silk pussy, Naugahyde pussy, snappin' pussy, horse pussy, dog pussy, chicken pussy, fake pussy! If we don't have it, you don't want it!

Seth: Shit, I been to bars make this place look like a fuckin' 4-H club.
Richie: I gotta say I'm with Jacob on this. I been to some fucked up places in my time, but that place is fucked up.

Seth: Now, is my shit together, or is my shit together?
Richie: Your shit is forever together!

Jacob: Are you so much a fucking loser, you can't tell when you've won?
Seth: What did you call me?
Jacob: Nothing. I didn't make a statement. I asked a question. Would you like me to ask it again? Very well. Are you such a loser you can't tell when you've won? The entire state of Texas, along with the F.B.I., is looking for you. Did they find you? No. They couldn't. You've won, Seth, enjoy it.

Seth: Fight now, cry later.

Santanico Pandemonium: I'm not gonna drain you completely. You're gonna turn for me. You'll be my slave. You'll live for me. You'll eat bugs because I order it. Why? Because I don't think you're worthy of human blood. You'll feed on the blood of stray dogs. You'll be my foot stool. And at my command, you'll lick the dog shit from my boot heel. Since you'll be my dog, your new name will be "Spud". Welcome to slavery.
Seth: No, thanks. I've already had a wife.
[shoots her]

Frost: I came to my senses. I realized I killed the entire V.C. Squad singlehanded. There was blood... and chunks of yellow flesh clinging to my bayonet. To this day, I don't remember...
[Frost's story get's cut off when Sex Machine bites him; Frost screams; bites Jacob; eventually overpowers Kate and Seth, but not before going toward Scott]
Frost: He fuckin' bit me! FUCKIN' BIT ME!
Sex Machine: What are you gonna do about it?
Frost: Come on, Sex Machine!
[Grabs Sex Machine and tosses him to the front doors]
Seth: Oh... shit!

Kate: Are you okay?
Seth: Peachy, Kate. The world's my oyster, except for the fact that I just rammed a wooden stake in my brother's heart because he turned into a vampire, even though I don't believe in vampires. Aside from that unfortunate business, everything's hunky-dory.

Seth: Do you have a cross?
Jacob: In the Winnebago.
Seth: In other words, no.
Scott Fuller: What are you talking about? We got crosses all over the place. All you gotta do is put two sticks together and you got a cross.
Sex Machine: He's right. Peter Cushing does that all the time.
Seth: Okay, I'll buy that.

Jacob: Has anybody here read a real book about vampires, or are we just remembering what a movie said? I mean a real book.
Sex Machine: You mean like a Time-Life book?

Seth: Okay hard drinkers, let's drink hard. I'm buyin'.

Carlos: What, were they psychos, or...?
Seth: Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don't give a fuck how crazy they are.

Kate: Where are you taking us?
Richie: Mexico.
Kate: What's in Mexico?
Richie: Mexicans.

[after Richard blows up Benny's World of Liquor]
Seth: Low profile. Do you know what the words "low profile" mean?

Seth: [to Hostage Gloria] You. Plant yourself in that chair.
Hostage Gloria: What are you planning on doing with...
Seth: I said plant yourself. Plants don't talk.

Seth: Let me explain the house rules. Follow the rules, we'll get along like a house on fire. Rule number one: No noise, no question. You make a noise...
[holds up gun]
Seth: Mr. .44 makes a noise. You ask a question, Mr. 44 answers it.

Richie: Shit, I started to get worried. Where the fuck ya been?
Seth: Sight seein'.
Richie: What'd ya see?
Seth: Cops.

Seth: So what are you, Jacob? A faithless preacher? Or a mean motherfuckin' servant of God?

Seth: Do you think this is who I am? I am a professional thief, I don't run around killing people I don't have to.

Jacob: I'm a mean m... m... servant of God.

Seth: If you try to run, I've got six little friends and they can all run faster than you can.

Chet Pussy: Attention pussy shoppers! Take advantage of our penny pussy sale! If you buy one piece of pussy at the regular price, you get another piece of pussy of equal or lesser value for only a penny! Try and beat pussy for a penny! If you can find cheaper pussy anywhere, fuck it!

Old Timer: God damn you, God damn you... what the hell you want?
Seth: What do you think I want, you mean old bastard? I want a fucking room.
Old Timer: OK, all right.

Jacob: Every person who... chooses the service of God as his life's work has something in common. I don't care if you're a preacher, a priest, a nun, a rabbi or a Buddhist monk. Many, many times during your life you will look at your reflection in a mirror and ask yourself: am I a fool? I'm not going through a lapse; what I've experienced is closer to awakening.

Sex Machine: He ain't your brother no more.
Seth: Well, that's a matter of opinion and I don't give a fuck about yours.

Seth: I wish you the peace in death I could never give you in life.

Kate: Seth, should I save the last two bullets for us?
Seth: No, use 'em on the next two of these fucks that try to bite you!

Seth: All right, ramblers... Let?s get ramblin'.

Richie: I told you he said help us.
Pete Bottoms: [screaming in pain] I never said help us!
Seth: Well that doesn't matter now, because you got about three seconds to fucking live!

Richie: "How's your hand, Rich?" It hurts like a fucking son of a bitch, thanks for asking, Seth!

Frost: Come on, Sex Machine!

Scott Fuller: Kill me, Kate.

Earl McGraw: Jesus H. Christ, Pete. When you gonna learn that microwave food'll kill you faster than a bullet? I mean, them damn burritos ain't good for nothing but a hippie, when he's high on weed.

Seth: Now, this is my kind of place.

Seth: We did it. We're in Mexico! We're fucking in Mexico you little piece of fucking shit!

Seth: Jacob, you're going to keep going down this road until you get to DiGayo. When you get to DiGayo, you're going to turn this big bastard left, and go a couple of miles until you see a bar called "The Titty Twister." And to my understanding, you cannot miss it.
Jacob: Then?
Seth: And then you stop, because that's where were going.

Seth: Why, out of all the God-forsaken shitholes in Mexico, do we have to meet here?
Carlos: One place's just as good as another.

Seth: I'm gonna kill every last one of you godless fuckin' pieces of shit!

Sex Machine: Now, let's kill that fucking band.
Frost: I can do that.

Seth Gecko: Now I'm gonna ask you one question, and all I want is a yes or no answer: Do you wanna live through this?

Seth Gecko: You serve food here, Jose?
Razor Charlie: Best in Mexico.
Seth Gecko: I kinda doubt that.

[after first entering the Titty Twister bar]
Seth Gecko: I could become a regular.

Titty Twister Guitarist & Vocalist: Fuck you everybody, goodnight
[explodes]

Seth: And if there is a hell, and those sons of bitches are from it, then there has got to be a heaven... Jacob, there's gotta be.

Chet Pussy: You know what they say about me? I suck!