From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) Netflix

Tagline: "One night is all that stands between them and freedom. But it's going to be one hell of a night". What kind of pussy are they serving though? I hope they have apple pie pussy. That's my favourite.

Premise: A criminal (George Clooney) is broken our of prison by his rapey brother (Quentin Tarantino) and the two attempt to escape to Mexico, kidnapping a lapsed preacher (Harvey Keitel) and his two children en route (Juliette Lewis and some kid who has done fuck all since), so as to utilise their motor-home. The unlikely “family” end up finding a common enemy while at a biker's bar.

Delivery: “If you can find cheaper pussy anywhere else, fuck it!”

From Dusk Till Dawn was probably one of the first 18 rated films I saw, round at my school-mate's house because his parents were cool and let us watch the really nasty stuff that was age inappropriate and therefore totally formative on our feeble adolescent grey matter. I still love violence, horror and Juliette Lewis. Strip clubs less so. I'd not seen the film for a few years and while in hospital was close to completing Netflix. It was between this and something about priests and the Dunblane massacre. I decided the Quentin Tarantino written, Robert Rodriguez directed crime and mammary madness might keep my brain more happy while waiting for medication time. Ah delicious Lamotrigine.

My first thought was, “Oh my God that's John Hawkes in the liquor store right at the beginning!” (I may have made that thought more succinct for ease of storytelling) But if you aren't a Deadwood aficionado then, well, then you should be queuing up for meds, not me. Ah Deadwood, please come back to us. Dusk Till Dawn has a cracking cast: George Clooney, Quentin Taratino (rather ably playing a sex pest...), Harvey Keitel and Juliette Lewis all star, and there are cameos for the eagle eyed too. John Hawkes, obviously, Salma Hayek, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin all pop up and if you don't know who they are, educate yo'self!

It is no surprise these days, given it is twenty two years old, to say that the film does a about face in terms of style and genre. Don't worry if you haven't seen it, I won't say what, but just be prepared for the switcharoo. From Dusk Till Dawn is violent, action packed mayhem with snappy dialogue and some very funny moments. Yes it has dated a bit, but it retains the charm and humour it had for teenage me. Although I am less wowed by the naked boobs than I was. Perhaps I've lost my lust for life, but those were pre- internet days. Finding a VHS player that could pause without blurring the image was vital to teenage boys back then.

Bedsit it? More of an action- comedy with horror elements, Dusk Till Dawn is still a fun Halloween watch. It is very nineties, there's not much CGI in it, lots of practical effects and it is barrel of laughs still. I had forgotten how much I like it: a hugely entertaining. 8/10

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