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From Dusk Till Dawn: Season One
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - E1 Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (5th January 2015). |
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The Show
 Right now, the hot happenings in horror aren’t on the silver screen but, rather, on the small screen, at home. 2014 was a nadir year for the genre, hitting a low both creatively and commercially in theaters. Things are dire when the top horror hit of the year – “Annabelle” (2014) with a take of around $80 million – is labeled a dud by the majority of fans. Now that series such as “Hannibal” (2013-present) and “Bates Motel” (2013-present) have proven small screen adaptations can be much more successful than nearly anyone thought, most networks are scrambling for titles that could lend themselves to a long-form model. It’s the new remake… except they’re still doing remakes, too. And much like remakes, just because you secure the rights to a well-known title doesn’t mean its fans are to follow. Quality always trumps brand recognition. It’s too bad the makers of “From Dusk Till Dawn” (2014- ) didn’t get that memo, although it’s also not entirely surprising considering Robert Rodriguez is behind the curtain. The guy’s got flash and style and excitement in excess; what he does not have is a strong sense of storytelling, and he (arguably) hasn’t directed a truly good film in almost a decade. The irony of Rodriguez making such an utterly awesome film to, years later, ruining that smooth flow entirely is glaring. As a film, “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996) is an engrossing heist/getaway film that, frankly, could have never gone to the Titty Twister and still been a winner. This is largely due to Quentin Tarantino’s writing (and not necessarily his acting, which I’ve never had a major problem with though many seem to), George Clooney’s bravado and tight pacing. The Gecko brothers are a dynamic team comprised of two insane halves; we want to see more of these characters and their brash actions. So captivating is the Gecko brothers run from Texas law that it’s easy to forgive anyone who forgets this is a vampire flick, and once the doors of the Titty Twister close the action - and gore - are dialled up to eleven. Two dichotomous halves, perfectly dovetailed to create a kinetic energy that can be difficult to capture on film. There is virtually no fat to trim. As a television series, “From Dusk Till Dawn” loses nearly all of that magic. What was a succinct, no frills shoot ‘em up/horror hybrid is now a lethargic beast slowly lumbering towards a finish we already know. In fact, only those who haven’t seen the film won’t know what’s going on, because the series follows the film’s story to the letter. There aren’t homages here so much as fully lifted scenes, dialogue, sets… just about everything they could copy, they did. But since this show isn’t doing it better, it just makes you want to watch the film instead. It takes six episodes just to get to the Titty Twister, and by episode three fatigue is already setting in. D.J. Cotrona isn’t a poor man’s George Clooney; he’s a homeless man’s George Clooney. There isn’t even a comparison, and Cotrona is easily the show’s weakest link. It may not be so much that he’s a bad actor, just that he’s completely wrong for this part. Zane Holtz as Richie somehow manages to be weirder and more annoying than Tarantino in that role, so kudos? He’s difficult to take, which makes Seth’s unwavering support for his brother seem even odder. Don Johnson and Robert Patrick show up in roles intended to add a little weight to the cast, though unfortunately neither really elevates the material much. Eiza González is scorchingly hot as Santánico Pandemonium… but Salma Hayek in her prime? Can’t be beat. Not everything is a waste. The vampires have a look that isn’t used very often, sort of like a hybrid Nosferatu/snake creature. I’d say this was the best thing about the show; the primal design looks deadly, without a hint of eroticism. The show is also awash in blood, which isn’t necessarily a strong selling point except that it’s mostly all practical, not the digital kind that looks like crap 99% of the time. So that’s kinda cool. Maybe if the film version never existed this could have been something slightly more worthwhile; however, it does and that means very few are likely to find value in an expansion of that universe. It would have been better to operate in this world with different characters and stories, then at least fans wouldn’t have an existing property with which to compare. “From Dusk Till Dawn” arrives on Blu-ray with its first season spread out across three discs. Four episodes on the first two discs and two on the final third disc in the set, the episodes are as follows: - "Pilot" - A pit stop at a liquor store leads to a deadly standoff for bank robbers Seth and Richie Gecko, who are making a run for the Mexican border. - "Blood Runs Thick" - Richie's visions intensify as the Gecko Brothers escape the liquor store with dodged lawman Freddie Gonzalez in close pursuit. - "Mistress" - While Richie deals with his visions, Seth and Carlos plan to cross the border. Meanwhile, the Fullers' RV breaks down and Ranger Gonzalez asks for help. - "Let’s Get Ramblin’" - The Gecko brothers attempt to leave the hotel and take the Fuller family hostage, but Freddie arrives and complicates the situation. - "Self-Contained" - After a daring escape from the motel, Seth leads the Fuller's RV to the border crossing. As an irrational fear takes hold of Richie, Jacob fuller takes control of a volatile situation, determined to get his children safely across the border. - "Place of Dead Roads" - The Gecko brothers and the Fuller family enter the Titty Twister and find more than they bargained for, as Seth senses his deal with Carlos may be slipping away. Meanwhile, Texas Ranger Freddie Gonzalez tracks his quarry to the last stop before Hell. - "Pandemonium" - Good times are had at the Titty Twister until some foul play reveals the bar to not be what it seems. The Geckos, Fullers and Ranger Gonzalez have more in common than they think, but can they put aside their differences if it means survival? - "La Conquista" - As Santanico tries to turn Richie to her cause, Freddie confronts Carlos about his destiny and the temple's mysterious past. Seth, the Fullers and Sex Machine battle their way deeper into the temple, where they meet an unexpected ally. - "Boxman" - In order to free Santánico, Seth and Richie must face the labyrinth within the temple. Jacob and Kate are forced to confront Scott¹s transformation, while Freddie uncovers a new lead in the cartel killer case. - "The Take" - Richie frees Santánico and parts ways with Seth. Scott is a lost soul, Kate sets her father free after Scott bites him. The Rangers makes a deal for his freedom and heads home. After the dust settles, Kate and Seth leave in the Corvette.
Video
The series sports a sharp 1.78:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded digital image, free of grain and highly defined. Now, the color here can be a bit of an issue at times, and that is because post-production grading has lent a yellow hue to a number of scenes, rendering the image sort of sickly looking. It’s an odd stylistic choice. Otherwise, colors look natural and well saturated. Black levels are spot-on, with no crushing or haze issues during scenes set in darkness. There’s rarely any softness in the picture, and close-ups look picture perfect.
Audio
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound track (48kHz/24-bit) vacillates between subtle moments of tension and high velocity moments of rockin’ that are ripped right from the Titty Twister’s house band. The track exhibits good range, with many discreet effects emanating from each corner of the room. Gun shots whiz by with some real weight, aiding in the immersion and putting viewers right in the action. Audio is also available in a lossy English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound track. Subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired.
Extras
There’s no skimping on bonus material here. In addition to numerous audio commentaries, there are featurettes, trailers, interviews, commercials, behind-the-scenes clips, and more. DISC ONE: The "Pilot" episode features an audio commentary with cast members D.J. Cotrona, Brandon Soo Hoo, series writer Carlos Coto, cast members Eiza González, Jesse Garcia, executive producer/director Robert Rodriguez, and cast member Zane Holtz. The episode "Blood Runs Thick" features an audio commentary with series writers Carlos Coto and Diego Gutierrez. The disc also includes a bonus trailer (1080p) for “The Matador” (2014). DISC TWO: The episode "Place of Dead Roads" features an audio commentary with series writer Álvaro Rodríguez, series writer Carlos Coto, director Dwight H. Little, and cast member Jesse Garcia. The episode "Pandemonium" features an audio commentary with cast members D.J. Cotrona, Brandon Soo Hoo, series writer Carlos Coto, cast members Eiza González, Jesse Garcia, executive producer/director Robert Rodriguez, cast members Wilmer Valderrama, and Zane Holtz. The episode "La Conquista" features an audio commentary with series writer Carlos Coto, director Fede Alvarez, and series writer Marcel Rodriguez. DISC THREE: The episode "The Take" features an audio commentary with series writers Álvaro Rodríguez, and Carlos Coto, cast members Jesse Garcia, Robert Patrick, and Zane Holtz. A “full length" trailer (1080i) runs for 2 minutes and 2 seconds. “Best Kills Video” (1080i) promo runs for 1 minute and 2 seconds. “On Set: Episode 1 Day 1” is a featurette that runs for 2 minutes and 2 seconds. “On Set: The Making of From Dusk Till Dawn” is a featurette that runs for 23 minutes and 8 seconds, think of it as a really long EPK. “Behind the Scenes: On Set: Brought to You by General Motors” (1080i) is a series of short clips, running for 2 minutes and 8 seconds. “Behind the Scenes: On Set: Brought to You by Dos Equis” (1080i) clips runs for 32 seconds. “Character Bio" featurettes (1080i) runs for 5 minutes and 3 seconds, offering an introduction to the show’s cast. “General Motors Commercial featuring Seth Gecko” (1080i) spot runs for 1 minute and 2 seconds. “Dos Equis Commercial featuring Carlos Madrigal” (1080i) spot runs for 1 minute and 2 seconds. “Big Kahuna Commercial” (1080i) spot runs for 32 seconds. “What’s in the Briefcase” (1080i) spot runs for 22 seconds. “SXSW" featurette (1080i) runs for 1 minute and 2 seconds. “Q&A from Premiere at Alamo Drafthouse with Robert Rodriguez & Cast” featurette (1080i) runs for 33 minutes and 59 seconds.
Packaging
The three-disc set comes in a thicker-than-normal clear Blu-ray case, with a swinging hub housing two of the three discs. The set loads into a slip-cover from the side.
Overall
Some properties are best left in the medium where they originated, and while turning “From Dusk Till Dawn” into a television series may have sounded like a good idea on paper, as a show it’s simply a dull reminder that it makes for a better movie.
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