Oracle Online

Directors Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk ‘til Dawn) and Quentin Tarentino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill) have collaborated to pay homage to the classic '70s exploitation films which influence their current works. By utilizing copious amounts of blood, nudity, and explosives, the directors have recreated a staple of '70s cinemačthe double-feature. Accompanying the films are a number of faux previews directed by Hollywood’s newest batch of horror directors, including upstarts Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel) and Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses).

Rodriguez starts off with Planet Terror, an action packed zombie fright-fest which will no doubt appeal to fans of old-school horror flicks like Romero’s Dawn of the Dead or Re-Animator. After a group of renegade soldiers, led by Col. Muldoon (Bruce Willis) unleash an unknown biological agent at a Texas military base, a small Texas town must band together in order to fight off the rapidly growing number of flesh-eating hordes. Led by the mysterious El Wray (Freddie Rodriguez) and his girlfriend, go-go dancer Cherry (Rose McGowan), the motley crew battles their way through a hospital, police station, and a barbecue joint before the final showdown with Muldoon and his zombified henchmen. The carnage reaches its zenith when, after losing a leg to a zombie attack, Cherry lays waste to a horde of flesh-eaters by utilizing a prosthesis fashioned from an M16. “Over the top” is an understatement, but then again well, let’s just say that nobody’s shooting for an Oscar here.

After a small intermission, which features faux trailers for upcoming features (the highlight of which is Eli Roth’s hilarious slasher Thanksgiving), Tarentino brings us his feature, the high-octane thriller Death Proof. Death Proof revolves around the nefarious Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell, as a total scumbag), a serial madman who uses his modified ’72 Chevy Nova to stalk and ultimately kill his victims. However, Mike meets his match upon encountering Zoe (played by real life stuntwomen Zoe Bell) and her posse of Hollywood starlets, who decide to give him a taste of his own medicine. The resulting confrontation is one of the greatest car chase sequences this reviewer has ever seen, which comes to a brief but satisfying ending. Death Proof moves at a slower pace than Rodriguez’ splatterfest, but should delight fans of old school car movies (Smokey and the Bandit) and classic slashers (Friday the 13th) alike.

The films themselves are only part of the experience, however, as the whole feature has been edited in order to make the viewer believe they are viewing actual old Grindhouse films. Digital effects make the film look worn and old, and strategically placed “missing reels” and sound errors add to the fun. The directors also utilize a distinctly '70s soundtrack, as well as old theater announcement cards, which perfectly complement the films.

Rodriguez and Tarentino’s films, though not for the faint of heart, serve to remind us of what going to the movies is all about: having fun. True, Planet Terror and Death Proof may not be the most intellectually stimulating films you’ll see this year (see also: Blades of Glory), they will be sure to entertain, as well as keep you on the edge of your seat. If the concept of the old time double-feature appeals to you, I’d suggest seeing this soon. The Weinstein Company has recently announced plans to potentially pull Grindhouse, and release the two films separately, basically ruining the atmosphere the directors intended to create. I would recommend this film to anyone looking to have a great time at the movies. Just make sure you can stomach it.