Grindhouse

Grindhouse is a double feature consisting of two feature-length segments, each film produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Rodriguez directed Planet Terror and Tarantino directed Death Proof. The term "grindhouse" refers to movie theaters that specialised in B movies, often exploitation films, shown in a multiple-feature format. Both films, although shot using modern equipment, are made to look like they were shot on low-budgets with techniques such as scratches and cigarette burns employed to make the viewer feel they are watching something shot in the 1970's or early 80's.

First up is Rodriguez and before the main feature we are shown a trailer for the non-existant film of 'Machete' which is hilariously good and one might actually want to see such a film after the main feature of Planet Terror. There are several more of these trailers throughout the double feature and more information can be found here.

In a deal gone sour with a rebel unit and the military, an experimental bio-weapon is released, turning the entire town, in which a military base is situated, into zombie-like creatures which must be stopped by a rag-tag group of survivors at first oblivious to the carnage going on around them.

Planet Terror is a firmly tongue embedded in cheek, gore-infested ride of a film with a plot so ridiculous that you have to just sit back and enjoy the ride. There are as many laughs as there are gallons of blood used and more oohs and aahs than a skateboarding film of accidents.

Next up is Tarantino's Death Proof where a series of girls are lured into or killed by Stuntman Mike's seemingly 'death proof' stunt car.

In a complete change of pace and in fitting with previous Tarantino films, Death Proof is more conversation centred and one has to wait more than half an hour for any "action" to happen and when it does, it's over before you can blink.

Unfortunately this is probably his worst film to date and I would rather re-watch the unesscesary double flick of Kill Bill than have to sit through his latest which can only be described as boring as f**k.

My only problem with both films is that they feature modern devices such as mobile phones yet the backdrop and scenes are very much set in the age of the films they are emulating and you feel that the scratches and editing are unesscessary additions to the feel of the films.

Since both movies released under the guise of Grindhouse did not open to success in the box office in the US, the films have been released elsewhere separately. My advice is to ignore Death Proof and grab your big box of popcorn and go and see Planet Terror.

I would give Planet Terror 8.3 zombie holocausts out of 10 and Death Proof 2.1 hours of pointless dialogue out of 10.