THE (burial) PLOT

The following description comes from the VHS release of From Dusk Till Dawn 3:

"The latest bone-chilling installment of From Dusk Till Dawn reveals how this frightening saga all began! Narrowly escaping death, outlaw Johnny Madrid (Marco Leonardi, Like Water For Chocolate) is on the run from the hangman (Temuera Morrison, Six Days And Seven Nights)...with the hangman's sensuous daughter Esmeralda by his side!

Along with Madrid's gang, Johnny and Esmeralda embark on an adventure filled with colorful and unsavory characters who lead them straight into the fight of their lives!

Also featuring Danny Trejo (Con Air), Rebecca Gayheart (Scream 2), and Michael Parks (From Dusk Till Dawn 1 & 2)—you won't want to miss a minute of the epic confrontation that results in Esmeralda's discovery of her secret birthright!"

Although it takes place in a different time period, From Dusk Till Dawn 3's storyline is similar in structure to that of the original: Characters with vastly different backgrounds and moral standings must unite to fight the undead.


THE BODY COUNT

Before the characters even enter La Tetilla del Diablo (where their trouble really starts) there are in the neighborhood of twenty-five kills (including two horses). After entering the bar, approximately fifty more people/ghouls are killed. The total death toll stands somewhere in the neighborhood of seventy-five, but that's a rough estimate at best.


THE NUDITY (Come on, guys, we know that's what you really want!)

We get lots of brief glimpses of naked women in the bar. It is a stripjoint/brothel after all!


THE GOODS (How well did the movie deliver on its premise?)

What's really good:

* The tension between the main characters makes for some fun once they are trapped by vampires in the bar.

* Although the movie generally has a direct-to-video look, at times it delivers a true theater feel. With a slightly larger budget I'm sure the film could have been a minor theatrical success.

* Inserting a true story (the disappearance of Ambrose Bierce) into the fictional plot is a brilliant, well-appreciated move.

* Most of the camerawork is extremely crisp and clear.

* As expected from a film in the Dusk series, some of the camerawork is highly experimental and fun. Not every experiment works, but kudos to P.J. Pesce for staying true to the look Robert Rodriguez pioneered for the series.

* There is an extremely weird, stylish dance scene that is sure to intrigue some viewers while simultaneously turning off others.

* Ninety-five percent of the special effects are effective, and a few will even make hardcore gore fans exclaim, “Right on!” Those of you stuck ten years in the past may even yell, “Gnarly!” And the few of you who are stuck in a twenty year time warp will undoubtedly say, “Get down with your bad selves!”

Thirty years: “Groovy!”

Fifty years: “Neato!”

Seventy years: “Those are some hip effects by some cool cats.”

100 years: “Whooo doggy! Them movin' pictures sure were perty!”

And so on.


What's really bad:

* One of the film's flaws is that its production is a bit uneven. At times, From Dusk Till Dawn 3 feels like a major production, but at others it quietly says cheap.

* The Hangman's Daughter's pacing leaves something to be desired. As the film trots along, its storyline sometimes moves too fast for one to obtain a full understanding of what's going on. The movie could have been outstanding with more even pacing and a slightly larger budget.

* The final action sequence is set up well but ultimately leaves something to be desired.


TIDBITS (A little inside info for ya!)

* From the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com): “The DVD features a deleted scene which is set in present time. Here a man (Michael Parks) tells another one (P.J. Pesce) the story of the film. He doesn't believe him, so Parks rips out Pesce's heart.”

* Both From Dusk Till Dawn 2 & 3 were originally slated to have theatrical releases. These plans changed during production.


YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM A MOVIE (facts to help you deal
with your turbulent life)

1. Ambrose Bierce fought vampires.

2. You can make a killing selling brushes and brooms if you live in a dirty town.

3. Alcoholics don't have a problem. They are simply using alcohol as a way of pickling themselves for the great beyond!

4. Drinking alcohol causes holy men (along with everyone else!) to want to f**k or fight.

5. Child abuse is often permitted if said child was born with an evil streak.


WORTH WATCHING? (Should you slap down the money?)

With some tweaking, this could have been a great prequel. As it stands, it is simply a good B-movie. Nothing in the film stands out as being awful, but the pacing leaves something to be desired. Still, it is far better than most direct-to-video releases.

If you are looking for a solid, offbeat horror movie, you might have a winner on your hands with From Dusk Till Dawn 3. The film probably won't leave you with many lasting memories, but it's certainly an entertaining ninety minutes. If you liked the original From Dusk Till Dawn, be sure to check it out.

Fright Factor: 5

Funny Factor: 5

Gore Factor: 7

”You mean he hasn't gotten any from his own wife? He sucks at life!” Factor: 10


OKAY, I WATCHED THE MOVIE...NOW WHAT, FANCYPANTS? (Plugs for other flicks)

Well, if you enjoyed From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter I'd recommend:

* The other From Dusk Till Dawn flicks (duh!)
* Near Dark
* Young Guns 2

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age