From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter
release year: 2000 direct-to-video
genre: horror/action
viewing setting: home Bluray 6/5/13 and home DVD 12/19/06 and 3/30/03 and 3/12/00
synopsis: A cruel hangman, his innocent daughter, a bandit chief, a couple of religious zealots, and writer Ambrose Bierce converge at a strange bar in Mexico, and help show the origin story of most of what was seen in From dusk Till Dawn.
impressions: This isn't so much a sequel as a prequel; it has the same flavor, music, camera work, nudity, gore, and bad-ass situations as the first movie. Hell, it feels like it was directed by Robert Rodriguez, though it wasn't. Basically, a variety of different characters all end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think it's that basic plot device that I like so much - a mix of innocent and ruthless, competent and victims, all of whom end up in the chaotic bloodbath that marks the film's turning point. Needless to sat, there were copious amounts of violence, gore, and skin.
body count: 21 humans, 20 vampires
acting: Michael Parks is excellent as the sardonic Bierce. Temuera Morrison (who would go on to play Jango Fett in the second Star Wars prequel) was the mean-ass hangman and father. Marco Leonardi was entertaining as ruthless but fair bandit chief Johnny Madrid. Danny Trejo is the coolest bartender ever - he just grins and keeps feeding tequila to newly-christened drinkers as they join the barfight.
final word: Excellent rip-roaring entertainment in the vein of the original.
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