Two on-the-run, violent criminals, Seth & Richard Gecko (George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino), kidnap an ex-minister (Harvey Keitel), his son, and daughter (Juliette Lewis), and use them to escape to Mexico. While waiting for a contact at a rowdy roadside bar, they are attacked by legions of vampires and must fight till dawn to survive.
A combination of two films that don’t fit together, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino blend their talents, making a movie that is fifty percent entertaining. The first half of the film is pure Tarantino, with two gun-toting robbers who swear constantly and repeatedly shoot people. The style is tense and bloody. If you’ve seen Pulp Fiction or Jackie Brown you know what to expect. The difference is there is no underlying theme, no depth of character, no originality of plot, and no wit in the dialog. When the minister is introduced, there is an implication that a theme of faith will come with him, but that is quickly discarded and we’re back to what feels like a newbie-hack’s attempt to copy Tarantino. I’m guessing that Rodriguez and Tarantino wanted you to like Clooney’s Seth Gecko, but I found no reason to. He is almost as bad as his brother, and lacks the excuse of insanity.
However, my character concerns and boredom at the slow movement of the story (what story there is) vanish when the characters arrive at the Titty Twister bar. Is this because the film’s problems are solved? Nope. It’s because the first half of the film is cast away. From Dusk Till Dawn becomes a completely different picture, with a different style and a different purpose. Suddenly, it’s a comic-book, light-as-air, violence and nudity fest. Blood is everywhere, but now it might as well be Kool-Aid for all the shock value it has. Salma Hayek’s sensual (but strangely non-topless) dance is enough reason to rent the film, and the music she dances to will stick with you for weeks. Add in hordes of vampires and combat silliness (such as the crotch gun worn by horror master Tom Savini’s character, Sex Machine) and this is exciting, violent, sexy, and funny. Plus, the final scene is a kick (it’s a map painting, but a nice one). Rent From Dusk Till Dawn, and let it play while you get your drinks and pop some corn. When Cheech Marin’s second character (he plays three different ones) starts explaining why everyone should go into the bar, sit down and enjoy.
Followed by the inferior From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money.