Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’

Written by Scott Edwards

Doing something because you want to is one thing, but having to do something because someone is forcing you is completely different. Putting your all into something that you believe in, is what most people are able to do and that keeps them happy, but when you are being forced to do something that is not in your heart, you may only put in partial effort toward completing your task. It does not matter who is giving you the direction to do what you do not want to, be it a boss, your parent or a loved one. If it is not something that you truly believe in, it will never be completed at a hundred percent of your capabilities.  

Brothers Seth and Richard Gecko are on the run and trying to make it to the Mexico border to start their lives over again. The news is saying that the two are on a murderous rampage, as sixteen people have met their maker after Seth has been broken out of prison. Although he considers himself a thief, Seth is trying to keep his brother Richard in check, as he has an itchy trigger finger and the right kind of paranoia that will keep the two alive. Seth knows that he will be held responsible for all of the deaths the two are leaving in their wake but he needs to know why and what is going on in his brother’s head before he can feel comfortable with his future plans. 

The Fuller family is looking to take a vacation to Mexico, just to get away from their past. With the loss of their mother, father Jacob is trying to clear his mind and come up with some sort of way to start his life over again with his children. Not losing his faith in God, but cursing the Creator for his loss, Jacob is in need of something to keep him going and he wants to keep his son Scott from making wrong decisions in his life. With his daughter Kate growing older, Jacob wants to see her be as happy as her mother once was when she was still alive. Mexico seems to the be best place to escape to as the family has packed up their lives and placed it in their new motorhome and are starting out on the road trip of a lifetime. 

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When Seth takes notice of the family and their transportation, he devises a plan to get both groups down to Mexico without being caught by the police. By kidnapping the Fuller family and hijacking their motorhome both groups cross the border without incident and wind up at a bar called the Titty Twister where they will hold up until dawn. Being a hardcore biker bar, Jacob fears that the sins happening inside will corrupt his children, but not having a choice, he has to go along for the ride. As the night moves in however, the group is surprised by what is in store for them, as the bar is inhabited by vampires looking to feed.

From Dusk Till Dawn follows two groups as they are both trying to escape their pasts back in America and start anew in Mexico. Although the Fuller family is forced to travel with the notorious killers, the Gecko brothers, they have come to terms that they need to play along for their own safety. Holding up in a bar just south of the border, the groups find out that there is something more dangerous coming their way than the police. As the night moves in and the bar employees start to change into vampires, the groups have to pull together with the help of a couple of surviving patrons to find a way to make it until sunrise when the threat will become dormant again.  

This is primarily a vampire movie and fans of the genre will rejoice. With plenty of killing, action, sex appeal and unique characters, this movie has it all for the fan base. Not really knowing what to expect from this movie when it first came out, it has left me in awe several years later. With some great acting, off color dialogue and Cheech Marin, this movie has plenty to offer for the hardcore vampire fans, along with the ones who are just looking for a little bit of thrills. In fact, you'll find some great scenes, my personal favorite? Well I still laugh when the band starts playing their freshly procured human instruments. Stay Scared. 

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