From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money

Let’s face it, someone took a terrible movie about vampire bank robbers and turned it in to a sequel to “From Dusk Till Dawn.” Except it’s nowhere near being a sequel. Even with an appearance from Danny Trejo as the vampire bartender Razor Eddie from the first film, this is a terrible vampire movie someone decided to make in to a sequel. Felix Vasquez said in his review, “It’s a goofy, campy, and ridiculous vampire movie filled with horrible performances, and a ridiculous premise that does nothing to reconcile itself with the first film.” There’s not even a mention of Seth Gecko. At least recast Juliette Lewis’ role as Kate Fuller and follow her along on another vampire journey.

“From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money” is a 1999 sequel only that follows a group of idiots bank robbers, all of whom eventually become vampires before they decide to rob a local bank. Strangely enough the robbery is set during an eclipse, so they’re going to be able to rob the bank and not be killed by police since vampires are invulnerable to bullets. Vasquez said, “What do vampires need with money, one only knows. Perhaps they’ll open up a strip club? After an obligatory fake out opening with Bruce Campbell that promises a wicked vampire gore fest, “Texas Blood Money” lets audiences down by being a horror comedy that’s not at all scary or funny. It also tends to turn its vampires in to comic props, wherein the first film transformed the vampires in to alluring but utterly vicious monsters.”

When one of the bank robbers Luther (Duane Whitaker) on the way to a rendezvous with his men, stops on at a local bar, he’s attacked and killed by Razor Eddie and another vampire (Joe Virzi), becoming one of the vampires. From there, he meets up with his friends and beings turning them in to vampires one by one. Vasquez points out, “This series of events has potential to be very creepy, but becomes absolutely ludicrous.” There’s one scene where Jesus (Raymond Cruz) sleeps with Lupe (Maria Checa) who then gets attacked by Luther in vampire form while she is showering. When Jesus manages to escape getting bitten by Luther and hides in the bathroom, Maria, now a vampire, comes out from the tub of blood as Jesus stands by the door not knowing she is going to bite him.

Vasquez admitted, “It’s a truly spine tingling moment, otherwise hobbled by bad editing, bad writing, and even worse pay off. The movie continues on a gradual vampiric flip on the crew, and they’re always uncovered in odd ways. In one moment a vampire flinches at a bank wheel that resembles a cross; it’s a moment I could never be sure was opting for comedy or attempting to add a twist to the vampire lore. Either way, it’s moronic. Robert Patrick continues his descent back in to the B movie territory as the hero of the picture who tries to outwit and outlast his vampiric buddies, while the writers ride off the rails and lose sight of the actual premise by the final half, giving way to senseless action and badly directed gore. “Texas Blood Money” is a rotten pseudo-follow up to the dynamic first film, and it’s a shame this is considered canon with the Rodriguez film when it almost degrades the first film’s concept.”

As you might have guessed, this is a terrible direct-to-video sequel. That seems to be the case with a majority of the direct-to-video sequels, and this one is no exception. This is just downright terrible and has no redeeming qualities in them. No one in their right mind will ever want to see this. I made the mistake of streaming this on Paramount+ and it was a bad choice. This is streaming on Pluto TV right now, but don’t see it because you will be questioning their decisions and believe no one was thinking when they made this film.

Next week, we will end the trilogy off with the final and other bad direct-to-video sequel in the continuation of “Halloween Month 2026.”