Rip-roaring blend of crime and horror worked for me

Rating: 9/10 (11 July 2016)

Quentin Tarantino's films have always been controversial, something which has given them cult appeal. Tarantino ups the violence level and goes one step further to give us this odd film, which blends the crime and horror genres seamlessly, smoothly flowing from one scene to another. All of the Tarantino trademarks are there - hip dialogue, cool stars, brutal action - which makes it a Tarantino film, even though the director is Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez brings his own unique style to this film, giving it a glossy, shiny sheen and adding in features which associate it with the classic western film - even the classic bar room brawl is in there.
Opinion is mainly divided about this film, but I love it. The action is fast, the gore is plentiful, and there is plenty of non-stop violence for horror and action fans alike, which make this film feel like a cross between THE EVIL DEAD, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and PULP FICTION. While the first half of the film is a typical crime story, focusing on the characters instead of the action, the second half is a surprise non-stop flow of action as the survivors take on the huge vampire hordes.
The acting is all excellent in this film. Quentin Tarantino is well-cast as the creepy sex pervert who is mentally unhinged, his nervous stammering portrayal making him seem a harmless weed. George Clooney is the real star of the film, though, delivering smooth dialogue throughout while also being a commendably tough action guy in the second half, never breaking a sweat as he gets splattered with dust and slime. Harvey Keitel never fails to impress and he enjoys himself in an against-type role as a by-the-book preacher who has lost his faith, and his character acting is well suited to the film. Juliette Lewis plays her usual 'kooky' self, and she also acquits herself well in the action stakes, being the most believable character of the lot.
The supporting cast is also impressive, thanks to the inclusion of two major cult stars. Firstly there's Tom Savini as Sex Machine, looking exactly like the guy he played in DAWN OF THE DEAD, a biker, who's smart and fast with his whip. It's great to see Savini back on screen, I can only lament about whatever happened to that VAMPIRATES film he was making. Another cult star is Fred Williamson as a typical tough no-nonsense wiseguy who just happened to be in 'Nam, and he has some of the best lines as he fights the vampires.
Among the varied explosions and killings, bad language, and perversity, the special effects are also highly impressive, mixing together rubber and CGI in a pleasing, effective way. The vampires makeup may look more alien than bloodsucker, but it's strangely old-fashioned and scary looking. The many different vampire deaths are also brilliantly done with computers, from meltings to burnings to disintegrations and many more. There's even a magnificently animated giant rat creature in there among the blood and grue. Expect lots of extreme violence as people have their throats and arms ripped open and the vampires are brutally staked.
FROM DUSK TILL DAWN has so much energy that it can't fail to entertain the viewer constantly, from beginning to end, and the influence on films like BLADE and VAMPIRES is clear. Obviously fans of subtler material may not find the excess to their liking, but there are many show-stopping moments (the sexy snake dance turned blood-fest is surely a moment of cinema history) and knowing references to other horror films (Peter Cushing is even mentioned) that fans will have a field day. Amazingly exciting!