This is one of the movies that totally didn't move me. Actually, it didn't have a single aspect in it that interested me. I was hoping for an atmospheric vampire movie, and got a comedy movie that simply isn't funny. Not even Campbell was able to help in that aspect. This guy was amazingly funny in the evil dead 2, but here, he felt totally misplaced. I guess, there is no way that he could actually play clumsy and sappy at all. Even though I like the actor, for this movie he was pretty much the worst cast possible. All other actors did OK. But that just didn't help with an awful script like this one. I can't believe that the original has been a book. The whole movie felt completely like a trash movie. Sense was almost lacking completely.For me, either a movie has to move, that means, transport emotions. Or it has to teach something, that means, transport informations. This movie didn't do either. It didn't even make me smile a single time.

I can still fondly recall the first time I ever watched 'Sundown - The Vampire In Retreat' on VHS.There was a certain air of easy going charm about the movie that welcomed into it's overwhelming charms and as such I pretty much had a VHS copy within my collection ever since.Since I first heard through the grapevine about the Liongsgate release, I carefully bided my time, that is until my wife secretly ordered me a copy that arrived much to my surprise on Christmas Eve 2008.Now having watched the movie countless times down throughout the years, I decided, when time was on my side, ie, my wife was out of the house, I created space for myself, gathered myself a few beers and sat down to watch the movie with the audio commentary switched on.Since the arrival of DVD, the notion of having a director's commentary has always been the ultimate selling point in buying any of my personal favourites, I like to know the in's and out's of how the movie came to be.Of course the major problem that some of the classics have when it comes to the audio commentaries for the vast majority of films always depends on how old the movie is and generally how good the memory of the participants can be.Specific movies that come to mind that let the side down when it came to the audio aspect were 'Hell Night' & 'The Prowler' of course the makers of such classics would go on to make many other classics within and outwith the genre, but more often than not, their collective memory would often more sketchy than fulfilling.Such is the case with Sundown, too many gaps exist within the commentary, I guess it's too bad that the movie languished in distributor hell for so long.To be honest whilst watching the movie complete with the commentary I found myself quoting the dialogue the movie.However rather than dwell on such a small thing as that, the vast majority of the extras still rock, especially the memories of both Bruce Campbell & M. Emmet Walsh.The movie itself has stood the test of time, the overall casting of the movie added to the joy of the movie, watching the likes of Jim Metzler, so good 'Circuitry Man' & Deborah Foreman oozing such sex appeal as Sandy are timeless examples.It's too bad Vestron Pictures no longer exist, but as long as companies like Lionsgate have the belief to resurrect such great examples of straight to video classics and breath new life into them by releasing them onto DVD is both reassuring and exciting.This movie as well as the first 'Waxwork were both fine examples of what Anthony Hickox could do with limited funds and snappy scripts.This special Edition rules in every way possible and that's why my rating is 10/10

Any film that has David Carradine as Count Dracula and Bruce Campbell as a dorky, rather inept Van Helsing descendant is gonna grab my attention. From what I understand Anthony Hickox's(Waxwork;Hellraiser III)vampire western, Sundown-The Vampire in Retreat, rather lingered in obscurity which is rather surprising since it is such an interesting, colorful, sprawling, ambitious hybrid of genres. And, the film is packed full of terrific names in the cast! For an avid horror and western fan such as myself, Hickox's film was quite a treat and I could just feel the enthusiasm behind the direction although his influences are very visible. The score is rousing and quite orchestral, despite the fact that this film is actually set in modern 1990 with family man, David Harrison(Jim Metzler), wife Sarah(Morgan Brittany)and daughters driving into an American Western town of Purgatory to help assist an old college "pal", Shane(Maxwell Caulfield)adjust a machine which might have the ability to create synthetic blood. This machine was purchased by the mysterious millionaire, Jozek Mardulak(David Carradine), who is the authority over the town which consists completely of vampires who have taken a vow to not harm humans unless absolutely necessary. Interesting enough, Mardulak seeks favor from God for the murderous, blood-sucking deeds from his past with a township also guilty for those innocents who perished thanks to their thirst. But, under Mardulak's nose is his lieutenant, Ethan Jefferson(John Ireland)plotting to overthrow the great leader so that his race can hunt humans again. Shane joins forces with Jefferson and has plans of his own..in a major sub-plot, it is revealed that Shane and David's wife slept together and that daughter Julie could in fact be his. Shane desires to "turn" Sarah and Julie if just for spite because he's an egotistical, arrogant, smug punk who doesn't like playing second fiddle to anybody. The problem for David is that he can not defend his honor properly because Shane has superior powers thanks to his vampiric abilities. And, also, Jefferson plans to kill all the regular citizens of Purgatory if they do not comply with demands for joining the hunt. Shane has developed a wood-tipped bullet which, when fired into the heart, splinters on impact killing the vampire. Having built an army of vampires by hunting human outsiders willing to join him, Jefferson plans an onslaught which threatens all the work Mardulak has contributed to conforming his race. A nerdy descendant of Van Helsing, Robert(Bruce Campbell, operating his shtick without restriction;very cartoony and animated offering quite a nervous and over-his-head, but impossibly brave hero;quite an alternative to his Evil Dead series persona)kidnaps a vampire diner waitress in Purgatory, Sandy(..the yummy beauty Deborah Foreman who steps away from her usual adorable cuteness;quite a sexy and alluring presentation, but she had tapped into this kind of deliciousness in Hickox's previous horror flick, Waxwork)threatening to sprinkle holy water on her if she doesn't take him to Mardulak's home. Lots of stuff going on, that's for sure. There's even time to show a frightened young couple, who witnessed their friend's beheading at the hands of hillbilly vampire, Mort(the great M Emmet Walsh)imprisoned next to him by the sheriff because they know too much with the town wanting to feast from them. The vampires survive off of the artificial blood Shane's machine, produced from David's schematics, and heavy UV cream.This was my first viewing of the film and as much a buff as I am, I shamefully admit to just finding out about this rather recently. I thought the film is quick paced enough to look over it's flaws, although there were times when certain performances were a bit cringe-worthy, particularly Metzler as the heroic father whose dramatic scenes with Brittany(..who is cute, but doesn't exactly blow you away with her performance, either)regarding Shane are overwrought. Caulfield nails his part as the a$$hole of the film, behind the possible destruction of a family and only joining forces with Jefferson as a way to get his "property", Sarah and Julie. Campbell and Foreman have nice chemistry together in their sweet, budding romance. But, Carradine as Dracula, masquerading as Mardulak is money and seeing him opposite old Hollywood veteran Ireland in a gunfight was sheer bliss for me. We definitely see the spaghetti western influence here..I am pretty sure Hickox just dreamed of directing such a scenario. The vampire effects are surprisingly good, but many will probably wince at the bat creations(..there are different effects used such as animated and clay forms of vampires in bat-form). Rarely is their any fanging on screen, which was the greatest drag for this vampire cinema lover. It was a lot of fun seeing M Emmett Walsh steal entire scenes so easily and Buck Flower as a town vampire switching allegiances to Jefferson's clan(..his confrontation with Foreman is a doozy and his fate regarding an open umbrella is priceless). Ireland once again, no matter his age, finding that menace was also a pleasure and he knew how to really bare those fangs so fiendishly.Fabulous use of Moab, Utah locations shot in widescreen and the wonderful sense of irony in the plot being that these vampires, in their attempt to go straight choose such a hot place as their refuge from humankind.

But then again--I LOVE Plan 9 From Outer Space, Rocky Horror, Mars Attacks, and any other number of "comic" horror movies. Even ones (like Plan 9) that weren't MEANT to be funny.David Carradine and John Ireland are great as the leaders of opposing factions within the vamp community. And E. Emmet just turns in a GREAT job as a grouchy old curmudgeonly vamp, who's excuse for "eating" a tourist was--he P***ed me off. (of course the tourist would have p.o.ed ANYONE off.) And the love story between the Van Helsing grandson (played to the hilt by Bruce Campbell) and a female vamp was just too funny for words.And, as a very fair skinned person who has NEVER had a sun tan--but lots and lots and lots of sunburns--I'd LOVE to know where to get that SPF 1000 sunscreen.