People Love From Dusk Till Dawn And Grindhouse, But An Anthology Film First Brought Tarantino And Rodriguez Together

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Everyone loves the Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino film From Dusk Till Dawn, right? Recently, there’s been a lot of online discussion about whether the new movie Sinners (coming out in 2025) is too similar to it. I don’t think so, but people are definitely talking about it.

When people think about films directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez together, movies like From Dusk Till Dawn, Grindhouse, and Sin City usually come to mind. However, many forget their very first collaboration: the 1995 anthology film, Four Rooms.

Although Four Rooms received a lot of criticism when it came out – particularly regarding Madonna’s performance – it’s true that the movie is uneven. However, the best parts are genuinely excellent, like the segment directed by Robert Rodriguez. Let’s discuss it.

Four Rooms Tells Four Interconnected Stories From Four Interesting Directors

I’m a big fan of anthology series like the V/H/S films, mainly because I enjoy seeing how different directors approach the same type of story. With V/H/S, it’s horror, and with Four Rooms, it’s quirky comedy.

I wasn’t familiar with directors Allison Anders and Alexandre Rockwell before, and I haven’t seen much of their work since. However, I want to discuss their short films first, as I found them particularly noteworthy within the overall movie. Anders’ segment, titled “The Missing Ingredient,” features Madonna, who actually received a Golden Raspberry Award for her performance.

The story starts with a peculiar premise: a group of witches trying to break a spell on their goddess. They need a final, rather unusual ingredient – and Tim Roth (who I’ll discuss later) happens to be able to provide it, involving some unconventional activity with a cauldron. It’s definitely a strange opening, which then leads into Rockwell’s segment, “The Wrong Man.”

This scene features Tim Roth being held hostage by a man who mistakenly believes Roth had an affair with his wife. The man, David Proval, confused Roth with someone named Theodore, who actually had the affair. Roth repeatedly tries to explain the misunderstanding, but the situation hilariously ends with him being vomited on. And, shifting gears to talk about Tim Roth…

Tim Roth Is The Glue That Holds It All Together

I’m a big fan of this actor! He’s fantastic in one of my favorite Quentin Tarantino movies, The Hateful Eight, and he actually goes way back with Tarantino, appearing in his very first film, Reservoir Dogs. Whenever I see Tim Roth in a Tarantino movie, I always know I’m in for something great.

Let’s talk about Tarantino’s part, “The Man from Hollywood,” last, as it comes at the end. Tim Roth’s character actually links all the stories together – he’s the one connecting them. He plays Ted, a new bellhop, and it’s quite a first day for him! He’s filling in at a hotel on New Year’s Eve, and it’s absolute chaos on every level.

Tim Roth brings a wonderfully quirky energy to his role, with exaggerated expressions and physical comedy that feels almost cartoonish. While his bellhop character is endearing, he’s clearly overwhelmed by the situation, making him a perfect, if unlikely, guide through the chaos that unfolds.

It’s not one of Tim Roth’s best roles, but he does what he needs to do as Honey Bunny.

I Like All Of The Segments, But Especially Robert Rodriguez’s

While I liked the first two parts of the film, it really gets good with the third segment, “The Misbehavers,” directed by Robert Rodriguez. This section features Antonio Banderas and Tamlyn Tomita as parents dealing with their extremely mischievous children, played by Lana McKissack and Danny Verduzco. Banderas, who goes by the name Husband, tries to control his kids and pays Ted $500 to babysit them.

Ted quickly regretted accepting the generous tip. The children he was watching were complete chaos, constantly getting into trouble – they were like the mischievous characters Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat. There was champagne everywhere, the son was smoking, the daughter was drinking, and they were even watching inappropriate content on TV. To top it all off, they discovered a deceased woman. It was, surprisingly, a typical night for him.

As all this unfolds, Ted is becoming increasingly frustrated. Just as his parents return and inquire about any misbehavior, the sprinkler system activates, revealing the room had actually caught fire.

I consider this to be the strongest part of the film, and it’s the segment I remember most vividly. It’s structured in a way that feels like a double feature, much like Quentin Tarantino’s segment that follows, reminiscent of how Death Proof (which I don’t particularly enjoy) was paired with Planet Terror in the 2007 film Grindhouse.

Tarantino Closes Out The Film In True Tarantino Fashion

The film ends with a segment called “The Man from Hollywood,” which is directed by Quentin Tarantino. He’s acted in films before, and in this segment, he plays a heightened, almost cartoonish version of himself – much like his appearance in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (yes, really – you can find more about that in my article on Oz movies).

I’ve always loved seeing celebrities play themselves in movies, like in The Muppets. But this film is different. Instead of being himself, he’s playing a well-known director who’s involved in a really strange game with his friends. They challenge him—and eventually want to include Ted—by asking him to collect a wildly odd assortment of things: a meat cleaver, a bucket of ice, and even a doughnut! It’s a bizarre request, and it sets the whole thing in motion.

A friend jokingly bets that he’ll cut off a finger if he fails to light his lighter ten times in a row, with the prize being another friend’s car. Ted is hired to oversee the bet, and a meat cleaver, previously shown in the story, ends up being used for the gruesome task.

This scene has a strong Quentin Tarantino style. The violence, the nod to another work—the game they’re playing seems inspired by an old Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode—and the overall playful tone really feel like his signature. It’s a satisfying ending, and I’m curious how many Tarantino fans might have missed this film.

Overall, I Feel Like Most People Don’t Talk About Four Rooms Anymore, And I Think They Should

Is Four Rooms a cinematic masterpiece? Probably not. However, it’s definitely an enjoyable movie, and I’d recommend it, particularly for fans of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino!

I often see discussions about films like True Romance and Natural Born Killers when people talk about Tarantino, and Alita: Battle Angel when discussing Robert Rodriguez. However, I rarely hear anyone mention Four Rooms, which was a collaboration between these two directors before they became so closely associated with From Dusk Till Dawn.

If you decide to check it out, be aware that the quality varies – some parts are stronger than others. Just go in with that understanding, and I think you’ll enjoy it.

Have you ever watched Four Rooms? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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2026-01-06 15:10