Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat

UPC: 031398100065

Studio: Lionsgate

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Nudity, Questionable for Children, Adult Language]

Summary: Director Anthony Hickox (Waxwork) crafted this entertaining bit of horror-western fusion about the vampiric residents of a remote, dusty desert town who have chosen to derive their sustenance from a plasma-manufacturing plant in an attempt to put aside their monstrous nature and peacefully co-exist with humans. When the plant begins malfunctioning, the town's leaders summon the designer, David Harrison (Jim Metzler), to look into the problem. Soon after Harrison and his wife Sarah (Morgan Brittany) arrive, however, they find themselves in the thick of an escalating rivalry between two vampire factions -- one led by peaceful Count Mardulak (David Carradine), who ordered the blood plant as part of his plan to integrate the dying vampire race into human society; and the old-school bloodsuckers, under the sinister Jefferson (John Ireland), who consider Mardulak and his followers traitors to their predatory heritage. While the Harrisons' fates hang in the balance, the scales are jostled further by the arrival of a man named Van Helsing (Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, in a surprisingly low-key performance), descendant of the legendary vampire hunter, whose disorganized efforts at wiping out town's undead populace are impeded by his growing attraction to a pretty young vampire (Deborah Foreman). With tongue firmly in cheek, this semi-parody plays off audiences' familiarity with the conventions of the vampire genre, but it seldom sacrifices creepiness and suspense when needed. It marked a creative step forward for Hickox (who would later stumble with Hellraiser III), who clearly tailors his projects to seasoned horror buffs. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Category: Horror

Features: cc
Audio commentary with director Anthony Hickox and director of photography Levie Isaacks
"A Vampire Reformed" interview with David Carradine
"Memories of Moab" interview with Bruce Campbell
"A True Character" interview with M. Emmet Walsh
Photo gallery

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat

Format: DVD

Release Date: 09/23/2008

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 104 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
1. Getting Into Trouble [4:27]
2. "Can't Take the Sun?" [2:46]
3. Disciplinary Problems [5:21]
4. Expected Visitors [4:25]
5. Temper Tantrum [3:24]
6. Night Intruder [4:13]
7. Young Forever [4:26]
8. "Let's Get to Work" [2:18]
9. Moving Along [5:29]
10. Secret Find [2:38]
11. Asking Questions [4:02]
12. Vampire Trouble [4:41]
13. The Dream [3:51]
14. Tired of It [4:30]
15. Gathering Forces [4:59]
16. Fulfilling Destiny [3:37]
17. Midnight Attack [4:40]
18. Waging War [3:46]
19. Under Fire [2:54]
20. Taking Charge [2:52]
21. "Daddy's Home" [4:30]
22. Nothing You Can Do [4:51]
23. Not Your War [4:44]
24. Deadly Duel [10:44]

Cast and Crew: Bert Remsen  Actor 
Dabbs Greer  Actor 
John Hancock  Actor 
John Ireland  Actor 
Jack Lorenz  Executive Producer 
John Burgess  Screenwriter 
Anthony Hickox  Director 
Anthony Hickox  Screenwriter 
Dan Ireland  Executive Producer 
William J. Quigley  Producer 
Jef Richard  Producer 
Richard Stone  Composer (Music Score) 
David Carradine  Actor 
Jim Metzler  Actor 
Morgan Brittany  Actor 
Maxwell Caulfield  Actor 
M. Emmet Walsh  Actor 
Deborah Foreman  Actor 
Bruce Campbell  Actor 
Dana Ashbrook  Actor 
Elizabeth Gracen  Actor 

Country: USA