LogFAQs > #924442753

From Dusk till Dawn

Im somewhat prudish by nature (even though its not easy for me to get genuinely disgusted or offended), so this type of deliberately boundary-pushing, over-the-top fare doesnt normally jive with my sensibilities. As such, I never would have thought that I would be calling a movie that prominently features a bar/strip club called the Titty Twister great, but this one surprised me just as much as its own sudden insertion of vampires into a crime story.

The cold open where our screw-loose criminal pair on the run makes a daisy chain of mistakes that escalate into blowing up an entire convenience store excellently establishes this movies transgressive, live-wire comedic approach. That soon transitions into the road trip from hell, punctuated by ironically folksy music and deliberately grainy film; indeed, this is a movie that knows what it is and doesnt try to be more, which is a virtue in this context. However, said road trip also introduces something those bygone B-movies From Dusk till Dawn so lovingly spoofs and/or pays homage to never had: genuine character development, as the criminal brothers form a makeshift family with the real family they kidnapped.

Finally, the five cross the border into Mexico and reach their destination, the fabled Titty Twister. Here, the bloodsuckers swoop in, and, as the action ramps up, the humor keeps flowing. In particular, the vampire band spiting the audience by materializing out of existence and the sequence where Carlos finally shows up are real laugh-out-loud highlights. While it often takes a backseat to the character interplay and other humor, Robert Rodriguez knows how to direct action, chock a block with character-spotlighting moments and never too murky or confusing. One final, perhaps most remarkable distinction this movie possesses is top-notch acting. In particular, George Clooney, with seemingly boundless charisma, pulls off the incredible feat of making the audience root for his sociopathic career criminal; not to be outdone, Quentin Tarantino plays the quieter, yet more messed up member of the duo to the hilt. All in all, this movie certainly isnt perfect or for everyone, yet its an incredible ride if you can get on its wavelength.
---

"I believe in a universe that doesn't care, and people who do."
You won the CBX Guru Contest, Advokaiser! Bully for you!