the audience applauded

Sadly Over-hyped

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

A small town located in the American West is improbably inhabited entirely by vampires who exist on artificial blood produced by a plasma-manufacturing plant. In this way they can live without having to kill people and co-exist peacefully. But one faction decides that it is time to resort to their true nature, this results in a civil war of sorts between the good and bad vampires.This one was directed by Anthony Hickox who is probably most well remembered for the comedy horror Waxwork (1998). I personally found that film to be something of a disappointment and in contrast found Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat to be quite a bit better than I expected and a lot more enjoyable than Waxwork. It's one of those films from the late 80's / early 90's that could be described as a hybrid-western, in this case a combo of western, horror and comedy. I only really heard of it this year and thought it slightly surprising that I hadn't been aware of it back in the day, as I couldn't see how me and my teenage buddies would have not wanted to see a Bruce Campbell horror comedy back then. But it seems that maybe it wasn't due to our own lack of awareness and more to do with this one kind of going under the radar a bit. I can't really understand why to be honest as it covers quite a lot of ground pretty effectively and was definitely good fun, if not exactly essential stuff. Whatever the case, it definitely benefits quite a bit in having such a good cast. Campbell is in more restrained form that usual as a dopey vampire hunter, B-Movie king David Carradine is the chief vampire leader, Maxwell Caulfield of Dynasty and Colbys TV fame puts in a pretty spirited performance as one of the main evil vampires, renowned character actor M. Emmet Walsh is as reliable as ever as a slightly world weary older vampire and future Twin Peaks actor Dana Ashbrook appears as one of the victims. All-in-all, a pretty fun time is to be had with this one, a film that deserves a little more love.

All isn't well in the remote desert town of Purgatory. The place is populated by vampires. One bunch led by the charming, courtly Count Margulak (a splendidly suave and dignified portrayal by David Carradine) want to switch to synthetic blood and live peacefully with humans while a rival evil faction led by the wicked Ethan Jefferson (a marvelously ruthless John Ireland) and smooth heel Shane (essayed with gleefully nasty brio by Maxwell Caulfield) wish to retain the old ways of preying on normal people for food. Things inevitably culminate in a fierce pitched war between the opposing groups with the human Harrison family caught in the middle. Director Anthony Hickox, who also co-wrote the witty and ingenious script with John Burgess, deftly blends horror, comedy, and Western elements into a fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable handy dandy multi-genre combo special. Moreover, Hickox relates the absorbing story at a leisurely, yet steady pace, further spices things up with a deliciously deadpan sense of pitch-black humor, comes through with several suitably juicy moments of gore (an impalement on an umbrella rates as the definite amusingly twisted splatter highlight), and stages the last reel action with considerable rip-roaring aplomb. The uniformly bang-up cast have a ball with their meaty roles: Carradine and Ireland make for terrific adversaries, Bruce Campbell contributes a hilarious comic turn as the bumbling Robert Van Helsing, the ever-lovely Deborah Foreman is a sexy hoot as fetching, lonely bloodsucker babe Sandy White, plus there's fine turns by Morgan Brittany as the sweet, attractive Sarah Harrison, Jim Metzler as wimpy nice guy David Harrison, M. Emmet Walsh as hot-tempered old-timer Mort Bisby, Bert Remsen as the cranky Milt Bisby, and George "Buck" Flower as the crusty Bailey. The crisp widescreen cinematography by Levie Isaaks gives the picture an appropriately dusty look while Richard Stone's robust, rousing full-bore orchestral score hits a thrilling bull's eye. A total blast.

Director Anthony Hickox's debut film 'Waxwork (1988)' was a disappointment for me, but his second low-budget b-grade production is a vast improvement, but still from flawless. For a comedy-horror I didn't find it particularly humorous, but at least it had an atypical quality and unique premise of a modern day vampire western outing. It's ambitious, but has a disarray of unrealized gimmicks in its broadly directionless story. The two themes were mixed in well enough though. Don't be expecting much blood splatter and dark humour as it's dry on that front, because it's quite light-hearted and goofy throughout the whole thing. The script keeps it tongue-in-cheek and fairly witty, but slim on plot details. Making it much stronger is that of a well-cast of gleeful familiar faces. David Carradine adds class with his lofty performance as the head count of the town. Bruce Campbell in a too minor role enjoyably twitches about as a vampire hunter and Deborah Foreman is engagingly warm as one of the undead. John Ireland mercilessly chews it up in a fine villainous role. Maxwell Caulfield made for a perfect oily vampire and M Emmet Walsh's cranky shenanigans were a delightful inclusion. In the main leads Jim Metzler was forgettable and Morgan Brittany was only slightly better. Look out for Dana Ashbrook, John Hancock, Dabbs Greer and George 'Buck' Flower. Hickox nicely paces it, and its ever-changing tenor is well pulled off with such polished styling. He does a slick job, with such restraints. The action sequences (mainly in the latter half with its traditional shootouts and standoff) can be over-the-top, but are competently done and the make-up work looks convincing. In the background the vast, dusty Arizona setting is beautifully captured by tidy cinematography and even a grand western flavour features prominently in the burning score. This little feature falls in the rivetingly campy basket.

Funny movie with some named actors about a group of vampires attempting to go straight. The vampires have decided to give up human blood and have moved on to artificial blood, kind of a blood suckin nutrashake. This coupled with SPF 1000 allows the vampires to lead a "normal" life.However not all is well in vampire town as some of the vampires want to return to the old ways. the movie ends with a battle between the humans who stumbled onto the vampire town, the good vampires, and the vampires who want to return to the old ways. A good movie if you like fake blood and plastic fangsoverall a funny "horror " movie