Although ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ has undoubtably lost some steam after season 1, a few notable cameos and bigger action will give season 2 a lasting appeal with die-hard Robert Rodriguez fans.
Vampire of Blood will fall and I will not rest until it all, burns.
Originally spun from the mid-’90s mind of ‘the Hateful Eight’ director Quentin Tarantino and helmed by director Robert Rodriguez, the big screen namesake, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn,’ features a young George Clooney and Tarantino as the notorious Gecko brothers. When a heist goes sour the brothers find themselves on the lam and headed for the border when their search for refuge takes a mystical turn for the terrible. 20 years after its conceptual inception, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ finds itself in series on format on El Rey and in its stake driving second season. This time around, D.J. Cotrona and Zane Holtz take on the role of the Gecko brother for today’s generation. They are joined by a supporting cast including relative newcomer Eiza Gonzalez, Wilmer Valderrama (‘That 70’s Show’), pop star Demi Lovato, and Jake Busey (‘Starship Troopers’), adding cameo appearances by Rodriguez favorites like Danny Trejo.
Madison Davenport as Kate Fuller
From the El Rey Network Original “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” Photography: Robert Rodriguez
Photo Courtesy El Rey Network
Cinematics (Cinematography, Acting, etc.) – 3
Visually, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ is there. The high contrast aesthetic almost pays a diluted visual tribute to it’s predecessor. The sonic-scape is irradiated with crunchy blues licks that mesmerize, magnifying Rodriguez’s vampiric tableau. If you’re a fan or Rodriguez’s usual ensemble of out-there characters and retro vibes, then this is the series for you. It’s indulgent, it’s bloody, it’s self-aware and it’s kind of silly, but the only drawback is that the dialogue tends to drag and the sub-plots sometimes live on past their expiration.
Jake Busey as “Sex Machine” From the El Rey Network Original “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” Photography: Robert Rodriguez Photo Courtesy El Rey Network
Entertainment Value – 3
All though the acting isn’t quite on par and the dialogue often drags, the visuals are appealing and a few notable characters make the downtimes fade away. One character in particular being Jake Busey’s mouthy Professor Aiden Tanner aka “Sex Machine.” Busey really brings out the comedically gritty and bizarro world quality of the story, much like Johnny Depp did for the ‘Desperado’ film series in ‘Once Upon a Time in Mexico.’ Demi Lovato also turns up the heat in muscle cars, sleek bikes, and tight black leather (Yes, this falls under entertainment value for me). The visuals and the action keep the momentum, but if you’re looking to find refined scene work and enthralling dialogue, this is not the venue. On the other hand, if you want vampires, half-naked women, rock and roll, and fangs… then this was made for you.
Zane Holtz as Richie Gecko
Eiza González as Santánico Pandemonium
From the El Rey Network Original “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series”
Re-Watchability – 2
While it may not appeal to everyone, Robert Rodriguez fans know that the arty director rarely travels that road of mass appeal, and that works for him. The dialogue definitely falls limp, at times painfully so, but the story is nonetheless refortified by a signature retro style and eye-gouging visuals.
Blu-Ray – 3.5
This was very much a dessert first Blu-Ray experience for me. I started on disc 3 with the confectionary bonus features, and then went back and watched the episodes, the meat and bones. For the sake of review, I will convey my sentiments to you in reverse, or chronological, order. On a side note, I’ve got to say that only someone as consistently artful as Robert Rodriguez could bring home viewers a polished, yet die-hard indie, series such as this to air.
All of the special content is palatable on some level. From the Costume/Makeup to Mythology, to the mini-behind the scenes for Demi Lovato and Jake Busy, this blu-ray set gives fangirls and fanboys ample backstory and behind the scenes goodies to pour over. Jake Busey’s content is particularly funny as it clips together a short run of some of his funniest dialogue from the season.
Check out FilmFad’s official unboxing of Robert Rodriguez’s ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ Season 2 below:
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Have you seen ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ through its second season? Has it done justice to its mid-’90s namesake or has it fallen short? We want to know, so tell us in the comment section below.
- Cinematics
- Entertainment Value
- Rewatchability
- Blu-Ray
Summary
While 'From Dusk Till Dawn' Season 2 may not appeal to everyone, Robert Rodriguez fans know that the arty director rarely travels that road of mass appeal, and that works for him. The dialogue definitely falls limp, at times painfully so, but the story is nonetheless refortified by a signature retro style and eye-gouging visuals.
