Two full length feature horror movies written by Quentin Tarantino (DEATH PROOF) & Robert Rodriguez (PLANET TERROR) put together as a two film feature. Including fake movie trailers in between both movies.
Let's dive right into it shall we? Grindhouse starts off with the trailer for MACHETE and that sweet trailer alone, starring a vengeful Danny Trejo, set the mood right away. The story to the trailer is simple but oh-so-fun and I seriously hope to see this one as a full-length feature because I'm a 110 percent sure it would be a blast! Trejo looks as mean as ever and there are explosions, violence, hot chicks and so much cool action one really didn't want this thing to end.
After getting the blood pumpinī it's time for the first feature which is Robert Rodriguez' PLANET TERROR and man does this flick have a lot to offer. Lots of regonizable actors here and they're delivering awesome performances. It was a true pleasure seeing Michael Biehn kick some ass again, but the true star of the film is gunslinger Freddy Rodriguez himself who kills so many folks in such cool ways and is the one who really makes the body count go through the roof. Rodriguez really captures the 70's/80's exploitation feel from start to finish and if it's action you want you'll get more than enough to go around.
As for the horror, PLANET TERROR has a lot of that to offer too even though it's action first and horror second mind you. An infection is spread and people start turning into zombies and even though the film has subplots that's really all you need to know for now. These horrible zombies are eating their way through Texas and we get to follow a bunch of survivors who has to fight for their lives in order not be turned in into such nasty monsters themselves. Rose McGowan plays the character Cherry Darling, Freddy's character's old flame, and she does it really well, whether it's just looking smoking hot or smoking zombies with her machine gun leg (very stylish indeed).
 
The pacing is pretty much perfect for most of the time and while it may slow down a bit towards the middle, it's really nothing that makes the film turn out less great. The score is brilliant and adds a lot of character to the film as well, kinda in the same vein as with some John Carpenter films if you know what I mean. Some kudos also goes to Josh Brolin as Dr. Block for a great performance indeed, very cold and mean, and a pleasure to watch on screen. All in all, PLANET TERROR is da bomb if you're looking for explosive entertainment.
After have been treated to such a film feast so far things do go down-hill a bit when it's time for Rob Zombie's WEREWOLF WOMEN OF THE SS. It's funny since this is the trailer I was looking forward to see the most and we've kept hearing about it for what has felt like ages, then when actually getting to see it, it turns out to be the least enjoyable trailer that Grindhouse has to offer. Problem with this one is that it feels like it's all over the place and then it just ends. He should've definitely kept things way more simple like all the other trailers did.
Moving on to Edgar Wright's DON'T which was a riot. We've all seen tons of horror movies where people go where they're not supposed to and something bad happens, and we've sat there thinking 'don't go there' and such things. Well DON'T makes fun of all that with a narrators voice saying 'don't' every time the people on screen are about to do something stupid. The trailer's really short but still felt a bit too long since you can only drag one joke so far. Still, it's a brilliant idea.
The last trailer is for Eli Roth's THANKSGIVING which is a faux trailer for this campy slasher flick that I wouldn't mind seeing as a full-length feature. There's a voice over in the film which is really fun and all in all, this was just great stuff.
Time for the second feature that is DEATH PROOF from Quentin Tarantino, but since our man Brad Guillory already did an exclusive review for that film I won't be reviewing it again. You can read his full review here.
One gotta admire the concept of Grindhouse; a double feature with really cool faux trailers... awesome stuff for sure. Even though it was a pleasure watching all that was Grindhouse I can understand those who felt that the whole thing was just too darn long. The thing is that Tarantino's flick which is the last thing we see (when people are already starting to loose their attention span) is a bit too slow for too long which doesn't help things up. Either way, both full-length features and all the trailer do have something to offer and if you love film, you just gotta see this one.
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ALTERNATIVE TITLE: Grindhouse: Double Feature
MOVIE YEAR: 2007
DIRECTOR: Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth etc.
WRITING CREDITS: Robert Rodriguez, Rob Zombie etc.
GENRE: Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Horror
CAST: Rose McGowan, Danny Trejo, Freddy Rodriguez
COUNTRY: USA
RUNTIME: 191 min
RATING: 9/10
Grindhouse Website/IMDB Click here
Grindhouse Trailer Click here
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