Plot
Criminal brothers, Seth and Richard Gekko have just robbed a bank, killing several people – and taking a woman hostage.
They kidnap a family, led by ex pastor Jacob, and his children Kate and Scott, to get from Texas through into Mexico, to meet up with their friend in secrecy.
Once there, they hold up in the strip club, Titty Twister, where a night of drinking to celebrate their win turns to chaos, when the simple biker bar becomes a haven for a vampire attack.
Direction/Cinematography
Directed by Robert Rodriguez with cinematography by Guillermo Navarro (who had, and would go on to work with both Rodriguez and Tarantino in the future).
The film has a very distinct ‘two part’ feel – with the first having a more bright, realistic look about it. It is almost like Tarantino’s early work (Dogs, Pulp and Jackie – who Navarro would work on the following year). I loved the flashes of terror he looks at when he discovers one of Richie’s kills early in the film.
The second part, is more Grindhouse/B Movie – very much like Rodriguez’ future venture Planet Terror a few years later.
Cast/Characters
Harvey Keitel gets top billing, playing Jacob Fuller, the former pastor who had recently lost his wife in a car accident. His children are Kate (played by Juliette Lewis), and his adopted son Scott (Ernest Liu).
George Clooney plays Seth Gekko (who was early into his ER heyday here). This is one of his more intense movie performances, and is actually generally terrifying at times with how aggressive Seth can be.
Quentin Tarantino plays Richie. He both wrote and executive produced this, and parts of the film have a very distinctive QT style to it, and it almost feels like he directed a portion of it. As good as he is, his lack of acting talent is evident, but this is by far his strongest performance on screen.
Other cast (including Rodriguez/Tarantino regulars) include; Michael Parks (who would go on to play Sheriff Earl again in Kill Bill), John Hawkes, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin (as three characters!), Danny Trejo, Tom Savini, and Fred Williamson.
Kelly Preston, the late wife of Tarantino’s friend and Pulp Fiction star John Travolta appears as a news anchor early in the film.
Breakdown
In their second collaboration together, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s blend of ultra realism, and Rodriguez’ high octane blends perfectly – in two “mini movies”.
The first half of the film has a more early years ‘Tarantino’ style to it. It is bright, and feels as though it exists in this real life universe.
The character of Seth is an ‘antihero of sorts’ – which is helped by the casting of George Clooney, who was just breaking the surface of his super stardom. It is also shy about hiding the violence from the viewer (such as the death of the hostage that Richie commits). We see quick flashes of the horror as the camera is focused on Seth. He is also equal parts almost terrifying in how he handles the Fuller family, and his interactions with them.
The second half of the film, in which the quintet get to the strip club Titty Twisters, soon turns dark – and with seemingly unrealistic characters (such as Tom Savini’s Sex Machine
and Fred Wiliamson’s Frost). Then of course it becomes an unrealistic B Grade Horror film where a group of vampires attack the group and bar, and everyone must try to survive the night.
What the film does well within all of this is the way the characters are written; Richie is the sexual deviant who has a foot fetish, Seth is his unstable at times brother who has always been there for him, Jacob is a former preacher who has lost his calling, Frost has his story about the war etc.
It is also not shy about taking creative decisions and offing characters, with only a small number of them making it to the end credits. If I could have asked for anything, potentially a bigger build up to the vampire attack at the Titty Twister, this would have made the attack more brutal when it does happen…
Overall
Well written, directed and acted film, with two very distinct looks and feels.
A bit more build up to the ‘second’ part of the film (potentially making it three 40 minute films) could have improved this slightly.
Still a strong recommend. Hard to believe this is 30 years old now!
4/5
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