When I first saw this Vampires in movies, vampires in TV, vampires in books, animation. A footnote written by Tarantino and directed by Rodriguez. This movie, coming out in the middle of the '90, is just a footnote in the history of vampires in the media. The vampires are an easier sell when we’ve seen moments of horror before them, and we reach that big reveal thinking that the only thing we have to worry about is Richie.Vampires in movies, vampires in TV, vampires in books, animation. Now, the fear doesn’t come out of nowhere. This subtle horror is very different from what we get later on, but crucial in setting everything up. The horror here is accomplished through editing and cinematography. There’s nothing nearly as explicit here as the violence we find later on in the movie. He comes back, finds Richie sitting calmly on the bed-alone. One of the scariest moments in the film comes long before they even reach the bar, with Richie being left to keep an eye on the motel maid they’ve taken hostage when Seth goes out. When he goes off the hinges, Tarantino’s natural, much angrier persona shines. It helps, of course, that this character is supposed to be flat and unresponsive to most things, because Richie is a violent psychopath. Luckily, From Dusk Till Dawn is a perfect exception. Most of the time, when Tarantino shows up in his own material, his acting is less than stellar. One of the things that makes this style and tonal transition so easy to pull off is that the element of horror is there the whole time, it just doesn’t manifest itself in the form of vampires until halfway through.Įven though the first act is very much an action/thriller, there’s a strong element of psychological horror in the form of Richie Gecko, played by Quentin Tarantino. There are some deviations from that, of course, but by and large these are Aztec vampires-just as the temple at the end of the movie reveals.Įvery time you think it’s going to turn left, From Dusk Till Dawn goes right and that’s just what makes it the cult classic it has become in the last two decades. While most vampire films adhere to the same general Eastern European/Germanic mythology, Rodriguez remains very true to form and makes a big change by basing his vampires off of Mexican and Central American folklore. The KNB crew did an amazing job creating all sorts of weird and memorable creatures, each one different from the last.ĬLICK HERE For 100s of FREE Trashy Horror Movies! Not only is it not structured like your typical horror movie, but these aren’t your typical vampires, either. Just about everything in this film is trying to be unconventional. It’s a simple concept when you think about it, but it works really well. Of course, in From Dusk Till Dawn, once they reach the bar, that’s when the horror starts. It’s set up in such a way that it makes you feel safe, because everything we’ve been taught from movies is that once you reach the destination, the threat is over. If gives you a sort of typical crime movie plot saying, “Okay, look, if we can do these things without getting caught, if we can get across the border, then we will get to the bar and everything will be fine.” There’s exposition that almost says exactly that, so that when they do reach the bar and have those few quiet minutes you actually feel a sense of relief. More than that, one of the most brilliant things about From Dusk Till Dawn is that the bar is the safe haven they’re trying to reach.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |