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Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, the infamous duo who later created that trashy gem "Grindhouse", in 1996 released (with the first as director and the second as screenwriter) "From Dusk Till Dawn", a film considered by many to be a true CULT classic.
The film is essentially divided into two parts, one pulp and one splatter, where the Gecko brothers (Clooney and Tarantino), after a successful bank robbery (which is relative, considering they massacre people), take a family hostage to hide them inside their camper to reach Mexico, where they plan to hand over the loot to their current client. The meeting place is the Titi Twister, a bar for drunk motorcyclists and strippers that suddenly turns into a den of murderous vampires. Naturally, it all culminates in a bloodbath with severed limbs (because what's the fun otherwise?).
The first part is excellent (sort of like a mini Reservoir Dogs), the dialogues are very entertaining and will hardly leave you indifferent, and Tarantino is hilarious in the role of a psychopathic sex maniac. The second part, after the dance of the beautiful Salma Hayek (which, to be honest, stirs up some strange movements in your underwear), loses a bit of pace and, despite the appearance of amusing characters, becomes a bit repetitive. There are still great ideas, like the use of unconventional weapons (holy water-filled condoms and the jackhammer with a wooden stake tip), Peter Jackson-style special effects (Braindead), and music by Tito & Tarantula (Afterdark is a great ballad), but the excessive nods to trash/splatter films, drawn out too long, end up being boring. In addition, the excellent initial dialogues are replaced by rather ordinary "impactful" lines.
In short, an enjoyable and light-hearted film that certainly isn't displeasing. It's a pity about the second part, because it could have truly been a CULT classic.
Noteworthy: Harvey Keitel and Juliette Lewis in the roles of an ex-priest and his daughter. Tom Savini as the hilarious Sex Machine.
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