The original FDTD was a vampire flick written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez, who also pulls directing duties on some episodes of the series, which revels in the stylish, blood-spattered latter-day Western milieu the Texas auteur is so enamoured of. In this case that milieu is enlivened by the presence of bloodsucking kingpins, disturbed bank robbers having creepy visions of ruby-lipped seductresses and hideous monsters, and lashings of creepy religious iconography.

The creepiness is only ramping up as the notorious Gecko brothers, pictured, continue their flight to the border, the hallucinating Richie is developing a seriously dysfunctional relationship with his hostage and the hapless bank teller who has no idea what this terrifying killer in the horn-rimmed glasses sees when he looks at her. Richie's level-headed brother Seth is trying to save his brother from the encroaching madness while trying to negotiate a difficult relationship of his own.

Meanwhile the Fullers' trip to Mexico hits a snag as Kate's fears for her troubled father grow; and the family's path crosses that of the show's angel of vengeance, Ranger Gonzalez, who meets with a distinctly unnerving Jake Busey in the part of an academic who enlightens him regarding meso-American blood cults, and us regarding the snake-girl from the first episode. While this is unfolding, down south Wilmer Valderrama's Carlos the vampire crimelord becomes ever more horrifying. There are times that From Dusk Till Dawn feels like a triumph of style over substance — it's not exactly the most down-to-earth show, and at its extremities its lurid horror visuals and flashy cuts can veer towards the ludicrous. But there are genuine chills to be found, as well as crackles of black humour amid the blood and menace. It's not for those who like realism but for anyone who enjoys uber-cool action and a dash of savage fantasy, it's got the goods.

Action and fantasy are similarly in order over in Starling City, where Oliver Queen, AKA the Green Arrow, doles out justice from the quiver in Arrow (Nine, 9.30pm). The Green Arrow isn't the most high-profile of superheroes, and neither is he the most practical — the gun was invented for a reason, Oliver — but his exploits in going all Robin Hood on the bad guys while struggling with your typical millionaire's angst make for fun comic-book telly.

Ben

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