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When director Robert Rodriguez launched the Latino-leaning, grindhouse-friendly El Rey network in 2013, making their first original series an adaptation of his own 1996 gangster/vampire flick, From Dusk Till Dawn, it had to be a no-brainer. The first season used the film as a blueprint, hitting many of the same plot points while deepening characters and fleshing out an elaborate mythology that had previously only been hinted at. The result was a juicy new version that built on the existing material while maintaining its pulpy, blood-spattered energy. With season two, they’re finally driving off the map, delivering completely original material for the first time.
Following the bloodbath at a south-of-the-border strip club, the suave and dangerous Gecko brothers have parted ways. Seth Gecko (D. J. Cotrona) spirals into depression and drugs, while recently orphaned teenager Kate (Madison Davenport) divides her time between looking after him and searching for her own missing brother, Scott (Brandon Soo Hoo). Ritchie Gecko (Zane Holtz), now a culebra vampire himself—think snakes rather than bats—travels with former dancer Santanico Pandemonium (Eiza González) to assist in her vengeance against the vampire lord Malvado (Esai Morales), who enslaved her for centuries. Meanwhile, Texas ranger Gonzalez (Jesse Garcia) falls deeper into the vampires’ world, even as underboss Carlos (Wilmer Valderrama) plans his own ascent to the top.
The first season of From Dusk Till Dawn made a point of broadening the scope of the story, which means that there are a lot of characters and storylines to check in on as things get going here. The first few episodes do suffer from having to spread their attention so wide, but big, charismatic performances and a strong sense of style can carry a viewer for a while, and before long, the various plot threads do begin to converge in satisfying ways.
The large cast does fine work, and Holtz stands out as the newly reinvigorated Ritchie. Both he and Santanico were the characters who most benefited in their new incarnations, and their quest this season gives both actors a chance to really dig in. It takes a little longer for others to fully emerge—especially Cotrona and Valderrama, who have to take characters at their lowest point and play their resurgence with limited screen time.
What’s most impressive is how well the series pays off its many plot threads, while leaving just enough room to get a running start on season three. It’s sometimes easy to forget that the movie just kind of ended once enough of the main characters had been killed off—not terribly unusual for a horror flick—and this season works as both closure for its own story and, in some emotional ways, for the film, too. It’s one of those cases where the personal touch and involvement of a guy like Robert Rodriguez really benefits the work.
With more and more TV series competing for attention, a smaller network like El Rey has to make sure its original programming stands on its own, and by stepping out from under the film’s shadow, From Dusk Till Dawn does just that. Its mix of horror and dirty pulp crime serial hits the right spots in both genres while charting a whole new course for the long-running franchise. Like the Geckos, you may do best to stay out of their way, but you’ll still find yourself drawn along for the ride.
Blu-ray Review:
From Dusk Till Dawn: Season Two includes all 10 episodes of the second season, along with commentaries by the cast and producers on the first and last installments. A bunch of short featurettes fall into two sets: one providing a brief glimpse into each episode and another on the series back story and production. And the collection rounds out with the show’s Comic-Con panel. Overall, it’s a fairly short selection, but it’s an intriguing glimpse into the care and planning that goes into making satisfying grindhouse fare.
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