Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

From Dusk ‘Till Dawn (1996) Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Written by Quentin Tarantino.

”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.” Seth Gecko.

Body count, 122. This little jewel was written by Quentin Tarantino after he won the Oscar for Pulp Fiction. He was going to direct it as well, but decided to give that honor to Rodriguez to concentrate on his role as Richie Gecko. The movie definitely has his stamp on it, from Kahuna Burgers and bodies in the trunk to Red Apple Cigarettes. Robert’s stamp is seen in the Chango beer, and the Sex Pistol is one from the guitar case in Desperado.

The plot is simple, the Gecko Brothers, Seth and Richie, have robbed a bank, and are heading for Mexico. The kidnap the Fullers, Reverend Jacob and his kids Kate and Scott, so that they can smuggle them across the border in their RV. The main problem for everyone is this; Richie is psychotic. He has schizophrenic moments where he hears things, sees things, that aren’t real. And they get people killed.

But they make it over the border, and into old Mexico, and make the rendezvous. The Geckos are going to hand over 30% of the take and retire to El Rey, a criminal haven where extradition means you get another dition. The rendezvous is a charming little place called the T*tty Twister. They are open from dusk until dawn. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy; open to bikers and truckers only.

However, however entertaining the floorshow…and it is the best since Rocky Horror, the Twister has one little problem. It is a haven from vampires!

Now can the Fullers and Geckos survive ‘till dawn? And can they survive each other?

The Cast

George Clooney ... Seth Gecko.
” Everybody be cool. YOU - be cool.”
Sexy and sociopathic, Seth is the brains of the operation. Ruled by his passions, he is still the stable one. This is not saying much. Clooney really broke out for this role, winning the Saturn and the MTV Movie award for his performance.

Quentin Tarantino ... Richard Gecko.
No quote: nothing he said worth repeating was not profane.
Richie is a bit off. He is also a psycho killer. It makes for a bad combination. Quentin wrote the role for himself. He was nominated for a Razzie for it. He should stick to directing and writing.

Harvey Keitel ... Jacob Fuller
Seth: So what are you, Jacob? A faithless preacher? Or a mean motherf***in' servant of G*d?
Jacob: I'm a mean, mhm mhm servant of G*d.
Jacob is a soft spoken rational man who is thrust into some of the hardest times imaginable, and then there are vampires. This may be the best performance of the piece.

Juliette Lewis ... Kate Fuller
Kate is a good girl who has to grow up fast. Juliette gives a very nice performance.

Ernest Liu ... Scott Fuller
Jacob’s adopted son. Scott is a good kid, who grows up as fast as he can. Earnest’s virgin flight was…well, adequate.

Salma Hayek ... Santanico Pandemonium
"The mistress of the macabre, the epitome of evil, the most sinister woman to dance upon the face of the Earth." Razor Charlie’s introduction.
Chief Dancer at the Twister, her number makes the movie worth it for most of the heterosexual males out there. And consider as you watch her dance, Selma hates snakes!

Cheech Marin ... Border Guard / Chet P*ssy / Carlos
No Quote printable.
Cheech pulls three roles in this movie, and every one of them makes a fine cameo.

Danny Trejo ... Razor Charlie.
One of the scariest looking Latinos out there, Trejo doesn’t need to act to be intimidating. However, he does, and it takes it right over the top. He’s great.

Tom Savini ... Sex Machine
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?
Okay, so he ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed. I guarantee he’s the got the biggest caliber tool. Sex Machine is a fighting fool, and that’s great, while he’s on the side of the angels.

Fred Williamson ... Frost
” I came to my senses. I realized I killed the entire V.C. Squad single-handed. There was blood... and chunks of yellow flesh clinging to my bayonet. To this day, I don't remember...”
A huge trucker, he is one of the best fighters in the bar.

Michael Parks ... Texas Ranger Earl McGraw
Tarantino loves using this man as a lawman. He always has a mouth like an outhouse.
John Saxon ... FBI Agent Stanley Chase
Marc Lawrence ... Old Timer Motel Owner
Kelly Preston ... Newscaster Kelly Houge
This little tidbit was great, and reminded me of the song, Dirty Laundry, about the bubblehead bleach blonde who comes on at five/ She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye….Houge’s eyes were definitely gleaming. A great little piece of work.

John Hawkes ... Pete Bottoms, Liquor Store Clerk
” 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 to get a f***in' Academy Award for how natural I'm acting.”
Poor ole Pete, he did deserve an Academy Award; great little part, played to the hilt. Outstanding.


Tito Larriva ... Twister Guitarist & Vocalist
Peter Atanasoff ... Twister Saxophonist
Johnny 'Vatos' Hernandez ... Twister Drummer

The Soundtrack
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It is rare that I mention the soundtrack of the movie, but this one runs like another character, keeping pace and setting tone. Well chosen and usually apropos, this is a great soundtrack, and is one of the few I own. Most of the music here has a blues and southwestern feel, a sort of smokey sultry mix of styles, a sort of Texmex of music. It works well for the theme.

"Dark Night"
Written by Dave Alvin
Performed by The Blasters

"After Dark"
Written by Tito Larriva & Steven Huffstater
Performed by Tito & Tarantula
This is Santanico’s dance music. Selma will blow you away. There was no choreography, they just gave her the snake, hit the music, and said “Dance.”

"Angry Cockroaches"
Written by Tito Larriva & Peter Athassoff
Performed by Tito & Tarantula
Tito and the Tarantula, along with director Robert Rodriguez were the house band at the Twister. Their music adds a lot. This is where I became a fan.

"Texas Funeral"
Written by David Vaught
Performed by Jon Wayne

"Mary Had A Little Lamb"
Written by Buddy Guy
Performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Anything by Stevie is worth listening too; he was a blues gawd.

"Willie The Pimp (And His Cadillac Coffin)"
Written by Bill Carrier & Ruth Elliott Ellsworth
Performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

"Dengue Woman Blues"
Written and Performed by Jimmie Vaughan
I was dang pleased to see Jimmie getting some play. He has always been over shadowed by his brother, Stevie Ray, and it’s a shame, because he is a brilliant musician in his own right.

"Jimmie's Jam"
Written and Performed by Jimmie Vaughan

"Mexican Blackbird"
Written and Performed by ZZ Top

"Torquay"
Written by George Tomasco
Performed by The Leftovers

"Opening Boxes"
Written by Tito Larriva
Performed by Tito & Tarantula

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

"Foolish Heart"
Written by Raul Hain & Evan York
Performed by The Mavericks

The Analysis
This is a masterpiece of pulp painted large in the medium of gore. No one does it like Tarantino, but if anyone comes close, it is Rodriguez. This is not a movie for the squeamish. There were effects in this movie that freaked out Quentin. Now that’s something to be proud of if you are an effects man!

The vampires are varied and brilliant. The special effects people went wild. This is a freak fest. And each one has it’s own special way to die. It’s not all just turn to dust like in Buffy.

Overall, the Cinematography is brilliant. It goes for a feel, and like the music, it hits it, from the bleak heat of south Texas to the decadent cave of the Twister. And with the music, and the performances, all these factors blend with rare magic to make something greater than the sum of the parts. This movie, profane and violent as it is, works. Just not for kids, please.

If you are looking for social relevance, and deeper meaning, you are barking up the wrong tree, but if you are looking for pop culture horror made into an art form, then this is the movie for you. It is gratuitously violent, intentionally disturbing, and a heck of a lot of fun. So, if you want something to make you laugh and shiver, load this one in the DVD player, and wait for the sun to set.

Bloodletting on Film: Vampires.

From Dusk 'Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter
From Dusk 'Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money
From Dusk 'Till Dawn
Lost Boys: The Tribe
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Near Dark
Dracula (1979)
Vampire$
The Lost Boys
30 Days of Night



Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age