From Dusk Till Dawn : The Postmodern

Director Robert Rodriguez
Story Robert Kurtzman
Screenplay Quentin Tarantino
Starring George Clooney, Tarantino
Release date January 19, 1996
Running time 108 min.

What should be thought of a freaky fantasy: is it a 'free-play' that can be rigorously examined or just an arbitration?

A stereotypical Tarantino-Rodriguez movie – full of excitement and post-watch anxiety. Amusing yet disturbing. Now, not only because of the variety its of motifs and aesthetic schemes, discontinuity and a tendency to surpass probability, embracing possibility, not caring for any 'equalization' among the diverse (and incongruous) types of visual and auditory elements used – one can call it postmodern. It's postmodern (rather a post-structuralism) also because it (or any of its characters) doesn't stay on a permanent statement. After an archetypical struggle of good vs. evil finally the good comes out as a winner, but the film doesn't go anywhere. No truth it can finally offer.

I have tried to figure out if there is any hidden political agenda. I have not thought much though. In the final shot, we can see the evil (?) bar is actually situated on an archaeological remnant of an Aztec temple. What does it signify? Aztecs are grotesque? Or colonizers will someday face the consequence? Vampires are Aztecs who actually take revenge on the living white men (outsiders are not welcome into the bar) or they have no 'rationale' only an evil instinct?

One of the film's tags is "A terrifying evil has been unleashed. And five strangers are our only hope to stop it." Can it be considered as an expression of the collective anxiety of the white men on facing the challenge thrown by the (long-dead perhaps) of the colonized 'other'.

Frank Frazetta

The director originally commissioned one of his favourite painters, Frank Frazetta, to create the one-sheet poster for the film (added here). Although the poster ultimately wasn't used, Rodriguez struck up a friendship with Frazetta and the two planned on working together.

According to Wiki Frank Frazetta (born February 9. 1928) is one of the world's most influential fantasy and science fiction artists. He is one of the most emulated artists of these genres in the world.

(if interested visit www.frazettaartgallery.com)