Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat is a 1989 American Western comedy horror film directed by Anthony Hickox and starring David Carradine, Bruce Campbell, Morgan Brittany, and Deborah Foreman. It was written by Hickox and John Burgess.
| Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Anthony Hickox |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Jefferson Richard |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Levie Isaacks |
| Edited by | Christopher Cibelli |
| Music by | Richard Stone |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Vestron Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.8 million |
Its only public screenings were at film festivals in Seattle and Palm Springs, as well as at Cannes. Released in 1991 on VHS and in 2008 on DVD, it has earned a cult following.[1]
Plot
editUnder the leadership of the ancient Jozek Mardulak, a colony of vampires seeks a peaceful life in the desolate desert town of Purgatory; key to the transition is repairing the town's artificial blood factory. Mardulak summons the human designer of the plant, David Harrison, who brings his wife and two young daughters along for what he thinks will be a pleasant desert vacation.
Ethan Jefferson is a vampire who wants to return to hunting and feasting on humans. Soon, the plant manager and his family are caught up in a civil war, as Jefferson organizes a revolution.
In the midst of the vampire civil war, a young descendant of the Van Helsing family arrives intent on destroying all vampires.
Cast
edit- David Carradine as Count Jozek Mardulak
- Bruce Campbell as Robert Van Helsing
- Morgan Brittany as Sarah Harrison
- Jim Metzler as David Harrison
- Maxwell Caulfield as Shane Dennis
- Deborah Foreman as Sandy White
- M. Emmet Walsh as Mort Bisby
- John Ireland as Ethan Jefferson
- Dana Ashbrook as Jack
- John Hancock as Quinton Canada
- Marion Eaton as Anna Trotsberg
- Dabbs Greer as Otto Trotsberg
- Bert Remsen as Milt Bisby
- Sunshine Parker as Merle Bisby
- Helena Carroll as Madge
- Elizabeth Gracen as Alice
- Christopher Bradley as Chaz
- Kathy MacQuarrie Martin as Burgundy
- Jack Eiseman as Nigel
- George Buck Flower as Bailey
- Erin Gourlay as Juliet Harrison
- Vanessa Pierson as Gwendolyn Harrison
- Brendan Hughes as James
- Gerardo Mejia as Pucci
- Mike Najiar as Ramon
- Phillip Simon as Pierre
Production
editParts of the film were shot at Moab, Spanish Valley, Thompson Springs, Hittle Bottom and Arches National Park in Utah.[2]
Reception
editIn Creature Feature, the movie received 3 out of 5 stars, noting that it was infused with cinematic vitality [3] TV Guide similarly gave the movie 3 out of 5 stars, finding the movie to be enjoyable, but that the ending collapses under its own cleverness.[4] Entertainment Weekly gave the movie a C−, finding it to be anemic.[5]
References
edit- ^ On DVD: Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat — A Lost Campy Fave Rises from the Grave Film.com
- ^ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: a history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423605874.
- ^ Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature: 3rd Edition
- ^ TV Guide (1991) Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat Review. Retrieved 8/15/2020 https://www.tvguide.com/movies/sundown-the-vampire-in-retreat/review/128257/
- ^ Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (October 25, 1991 ) Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat Retrieved 8/15/2020 https://ew.com/article/1991/10/25/sundown-vampire-retreat/