Grindhouse (2007) Movie Review
Written by: ML
Edited by: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
Producers: Elizabeth Avellán, Erica Steinberg, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino
Date Released: April 6, 2007
Cast:
Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling
Freddy Rodriguez as El Wray
Josh Brolin as Dr. William Block
Marley Shelton as Dr. Dakota Block
Jeff Fahey as J. T. Hague
Michael Biehn as Sheriff Hague
Bruce Willis as Lt. Muldoon
Naveen Andrews as Dr. John “Abby” Abbington
Tom Savini as Deputy Tolo
Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike McKay
Zoë Bell as Herself
Rosario Dawson as Abernathy Ross
Vanessa Ferlito as Arlene/Butterfly
Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Jungle Julia Lucai
Tracie Thoms as Kim Mathis
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Lee Montgomery
Rating = 3.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Grindhouse is a double feature horror movie that showcases 2 films namely Planet Terror by Robert Rodriguez, and Death Proof by Quentin Tarantino. In Planet Terror, the story revolves around a group of survivors who gathered together to fight zombies with huge blisters and an evil military team led by Bruce Willis. In Death Proof, the story is about a psycho stuntman who victimizes groups of girls in a deadly car collision, only to get a taste of his own medicine.
Gore Factor
Planet Terror is a gore fest. This is one zombie movie that will make anyone sick. The pulsating blisters, the popping contagious pus, body parts being chopped off and eaten, the balls in a jar, the fountains of blood in every gunshot, the gooey substance, and the amazing effects all contribute to the gore heaven that Grindhouse (2007) offers. On the other hand, Death Proof is a milder one. The only notable gory scene was the head-on collision during the first group of victims. But still, it’s one hell of a car chase.
The Grave Review
Since Grindhouse (2007) is a double feature, it runs for 3 hours. It is even complete with fictional advertisements and trailers. These gruesome fake trailers are showcased in a very funny way. But since these are from Eli Roth, Rob Zombie, and Edgar Wright, they seem like real full-length films being previewed. No viewing time wasted.
The entire film was edited in such a way that it looks old and grainy. There were even missing reels in between. The idea was to actually look like the films from the 70s and how they are being played in grindhouse theaters. This is art in itself and it made the back-to-back movies perfect.
Planet Terror is a great zombie movie. There were a lot of interesting characters and cameo roles that were unexpected. With Bruce Willis and Josh Brolin as the villains, the protagonists should really fight for their lives. The thrilling action was made possible by the great acting from Rose McGowan and Freddy Rodriguez. The most notable sequence was when their group formed at the barbecue restaurant then headed to the military base only to get captured, and their eventual escape.
In terms of effects, they were beautifully executed. The close-up shots of faces with pulsating blisters and exploding pus would make anyone squirm. The scene where a police officer was eaten alive by zombies on the table was incredibly brutal. Of course, the exaggerated blood bath for every gunshot was epic.
Death Proof, on the other hand, is a great psycho-killer movie. The fact that Kurt Russell was a killer stuntman who victimizes girls by smashing his death-proof car to theirs is a unique idea. What’s best about this movie is that the killer met his match. He did not expect to come across a group of girls who were in for some adrenaline-pumping car chase.
The only downside was the unnecessary chitchat and bar scene with the first girl group at the start. It was a bit dragging. The ending was also cut short in terms of not showing what happened to the other friend they left behind with the car seller.
Overall, you can never go wrong with a movie from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. With an ensemble cast of characters, you are sure to enjoy this back-to-back wild ride.
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