Halloween Movie Madness! - From Dusk Till Dawn

Okay so I figured since Halloween is coming up, I would attempt...the key word here being attempt...to try to do something special. I considered trying to do the whole "horror movie a day" thing but the hubby and I just bought a house and every waking moment of my existence not spent at work as been spent painting, dry walling, and trying to get that dog wiz smell out of the living room. So I decided to try doing a horror movie a week.

Note the two words here...attempt...try. Yes my commitment level here is really low.

Regardless! I figured this would be a good opportunity to try and catch movies I've been wanting to see, but haven't gotten around to yet or never saw in full. Its that whole commitment thing again.

I started last night when From Dusk Till Dawn came on Showtime. I've seen this movie in clips but I never really sat down and watched it.

I don't care what I'm about to say ruins my street cred. I LOVED watching this movie.
Is it the best vampire movie ever made? Nope. Probably not even close. But From Dusk Till Dawn is a Hell of a lot of fun! I believe this movie began the holy union of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Without this movie, there would be no Grindhouse and in my mind that would be a crime indeed! The two work seamlessly together in this film blending Rodriguez's flashy direction with Tarantino's wordy, dirty dialog into this insane horror/action movie.

The gist of the story is as follows. The Gecko Brothers are on a crime spree. After Seth's problematic brother Richard botches a hostage situation in probably THE worst way one could they take a father who was a former pastor, and his two kids hostage instead. The group go to a truck stop/brothel/strip club/herpes dispenser in the middle of nowhere to meet one of Richard and Seth's partners in crime. Unfortunately this place is infested with vampires. And not Anne Rice angsty ones either. Bloody shenanigans ensue.

Honestly the main reason I loved this movie was because of its balls to the walls bad assery. Was it believable? Nope. Were the characters insanely in depth and Oscar winning? Nope. But what it did have was great action moments and some really charming characters despite them being a titch on the cardboard side. I enjoyed the fact that George Clooney decided to play an a-hole like Seth during a time his clean cut good guy image was at its peak. This is one of the reasons I like George Clooney...that and the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou?. But even with Seth being the a-hole he is, you still really liked him, which I felt was important. If Seth wasn't likable this movie would have probably been knocked down quite a few pegs for me.

Now I'm not saying it didn't have its flaws. After all Quentin Tarantino did have a lead role in this. Frankly, I can only take so much of that man's face for so long before I'm hoping he gets killed in some way. Quentin, you're a wonderful director and one of my favorite people to watch in interviews but hon, acting isn't your strongest suit. Stick with the one scene rolls. Also, I wanted more screen time with Fred Williamson and Tom Savini.

But the good out numbered the bad and despite the flaws, I LOVED it!...Keep in mind I did have almost half a bottle of wine while watching this movie though. It only added to the fun.

By the way, if the movie was a complete bust? I would have still sat through it just for this moment.


So final verdict? From Dusk Till Dawn is a really fun popcorn flick! It won't change your life or revolutionize the genre, but if you want to watch something that has blood, boobs, and guns, its worth checking out on Netlflix.