Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat ** (1989, David Carradine, Morgan Brittany, Bruce Campbell, Jim Metzler, Maxwell Caulfield, M Emmet Walsh, John Ireland) – Classic Movie Review 9998

The old ghost town of Purgatory in the Arizona desert is full of vampires, cowboy vampires that is, who use sunblock, shades and straw hats to keep off the sun, and rely on artificial blood to stay alive. But the town’s peace is shattered when a rebel gang of vampires marches on the town armed with wooden bullets that can kill the undead.

Director Anthony Hickox’s 1989 comedy horror Western film Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat is a very silly and quite violent spoof of both vampire and Western movies. But a strong cast of eccentric actors enjoy themselves enormously, it is stylishly directed by Hickox and the photography (by Levie Isaacks) and locations really are something.

David Carradine stars as the powerful Count Mardulak who has founded the colony for reformed vampires in Purgatory, and Bruce Campbell plays Van Helsing. It is a cult film with a cult movie cast.

It stars David Carradine, Morgan Brittany, Bruce Campbell, Jim Metzler, Maxwell Caulfield, Deborah Foreman, M Emmet Walsh, John Ireland, John Hancock, Dabbs Greer, Dana Ashbrook, Marion Eaton, Bert Remsen, Sunshine Parker, Helena Carroll, Elizabeth Gracen, Christopher Bradley, Kathy MacQuarrie Martin, Jack Eiseman, Erin Gourlay, Vanessa Pierson and George ‘Buck’ Flower.

It is written by John Burgess and Anthony Hickox, based on the story by John Burgess.

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat is directed by Anthony Hickox, runs 104 minutes, is made by Vestron Pictures, is released by Vestron Pictures (1989) (US) and First Independent (1991) (UK), is written by John Burgess and Anthony Hickox, based on the story by John Burgess, is shot by Levie Isaacks, is produced by Dan Ireland (executive producer), Jack Lorenz (executive producer) and Jefferson Richard (producer), is scored by Richard Stone and is designed by David Brian Miller.

It is filmed in Utah, at Arches National Park;  Hittle Bottom, Moab; and Thompson.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9998

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