UNBELIEVABLE MESS!

Rating: 3/10 (3 May 2001)

"From Dusk Till Dawn" is a disorganized mess which doesn't know what it wants to be. Does it want to be a horror film or a cops-and-robbers flick? A domestic drama or a human comedy? The movie seems to want to have it both ways and the result is an unbelievable mess!
It was written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Both are talented writer/directors. What went wrong?
Well, for starters, Tarantino's script has no focus; it tries to be the horror equivalent of "Pulp Fiction" but without that film's slickness and charm. His performance is even worse. Someone should tell Quentin that while he is a really nice guy and is a talented writer and director, he should stay behind the camera. I imagine he pulled this script from the bottom of the drawer after "Pulp Fiction"'s success.
Second, the film's first half is jumbled and boring. We want to see the good stuff and we get it but we have to sit through an hour of crazy talk and boring nonsense. And the vampire stuff is way too over the top to be effective. That is what plagued "Fright Night Part II" and the same happens here.
There are some good moments among the sleaze. Cheech Marin is funny in a triple role; and George Clooney works hard to salvage this mess. He has a great screen presence and great films such as "Three Kings" and "The Perfect Storm" confirm it.
But even they cannot save the irreparable damage from the first half and while stylish and funny, "From Dusk Till Dawn" is too little too late.
* out of 4 stars