Quentin Tarantino’s incredibly dark, incredibly violent, and incredibly R-rated dark fantasy action film just landed on a new streaming platform — so this is your excuse to rewatch it. Quentin Tarantino is slowly gearing up to direct his 10th (and, apparently, final) feature film. Previously believed to be The Movie Critic, Tarantino has apparently taken the idea back to the drawing board, wanting to go out with a bang. His movies have been consistently brutal and dark, and while he’s tackled alternative history, one thing he’s never fully committed to is fantasy. In 1996, audiences were treated to the closest Tarantino would come to a fantasy movie. He might not have actually directed it, but after co-writing the script and co-starring in the film, it’s safe to say he stole the spotlight every time he was on screen.
Directed by Tarantino’s long-time friend, Robert Rodriguez, 1996’s From Dusk Till Dawn just landed on streaming. Over the past decade, the film has flown between a few streaming platforms, and Paramount+ is its latest home. From Dusk Till Dawn was added to Paramount+ on Aug. 1. It isn’t clear exactly how long the film will remain on the platform. But subscription-based streaming services, like Paramount+ and Netflix, typically operate on 12-month contracts.
As you’d expect from a movie co-written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez, From Dusk Till Dawn puts a very graphic and R-rated spin on the vampire genre. George Clooney and Tarantino lead as Seth and Richard Gecko (respectively), two criminals who have taken hostages to keep the law off their backs. Seeking refuge, they hide in a truck stop. But the owners and clients of the after-hours truck stop are far more dangerous than the cops who are pursuing them. From Dusk Till Dawn also stars Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo, Fred Williamson, and Cheech Martin.
‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ Is a B-Movie With Hollywood Stars
With Tarantino hot off the back of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, and Rodriguez’s Desperado releasing a year earlier, the pair were given $20 million to produce From Dusk Till Dawn. But the former indie filmmakers still kept that indie sensibility. If anyone else had made From Dusk Till Dawn, it would have been a bargain-bin B-movie. But with Tarantino writing and Rodriguez at the helm, they were able to acquire some genuine acting talent and transform it into a cult fantasy action film. Surprisingly, given its prestige, the film only holds a 65% Rotten Tomatoes rating. However, its audience score is far higher at 76%. The critics’ consensus reads, “A pulpy crime drama/vampire film hybrid, From Dusk Till Dawn is an uneven but often deliriously enjoyable B-movie.”
‘From Dusk Till Dawn’s Surprisingly Good TV Remake
You’d be forgiven for not knowing about it, but in 2014, Robert Rodriguez returned to his fantasy world to adapt From Dusk Till Dawn for the small screen. From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series ran for three seasons on the El Ray Network. The plot remained similar to the film, but it was obviously expanded upon to fit a three-season run. Surprisingly, the show actually received decent reviews, holding a modest 6.8 rating on IMDb. The film is certainly better, though.
