Grindhouse (2007, Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino)
Reviewed by: Ramses Flores

Before talking about Grindhouse you have to know what exactly “Grindhouse Cinema” actually is. Grindhouse cinemas were little theaters that would constantly grind out various exploitation films in the 70’s in forms of double and sometimes triple features that would be separated by trailers for upcoming movies. All of these films were exploitation films that did not try to achieve much artistic merit and instead aimed to be as entertaining, cool, and sometimes as shocking as possible. Various types of films came out of this exploitation genre. Films like Zombie films, Biker films, Blaxploitation, Kung Fu films, Splatter films, Cannibal films, and Sexploitation films were just some of the many, many, many different types of movies that you would be most likely to see at these types of theaters every night.

Over the years the cinemas went away and with them went the audiences. However, there are still a number of fans of the genre who have grown to love all of these odd works of cinema. Among these fans are Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. They have always expressed their love for these films through little homage’s and references in a lot of their movies. Finally though, they have both decided to stop referencing them and actually make a true grindhouse double feature complete with an intermission, fake trailers, and even scratched up film prints.

Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror starts off the double feature. Planet Terror is a zombie film that doesn’t try to achieve any political or social meaning. It’s a just a zombie film. It’s as simple as that. The plot deals with an outbreak of a strange gas that begins to infect various people in a small town and turning them into flesh craving monsters. It doesn’t take long until most of the town is infected and only a small group of people must fight their way out. Planet Terror knows what it is and has as much fun as possible as it can during its short running time.

After Planet Terror we get a couple of hilarious fake trailers for “upcoming” movies that are directed by Rob Zombie (The Devil’s Rejects), Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), and Eli Roth (Hostel). They range everywhere from pretty good to just amazing. They are always funny and anyone who is already a fan of the genre will get all the references and in jokes.

When all the trailers and other fake advertisements are finished we are then treated to the last half of Grindhouse, Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. This film deals with a serial killer (Kurt Russel) who instead of using knives or guns to kill his innocent victims uses his car. This premise combined with the always brilliant Tarantino and the casting decision of Kurt Russell should have been the stand out film. Instead it comes off as the lesser of the two films and it doesn’t even come off as a good film. It’s not even that much fun.

The problem with Death Proof is an odd one. It’s odd because it’s the same problem that Planet Terror has, the only thing is that this problem only benefits Planet Terror while it destroys Death Proof. The problem I am talking about is too much freedom for the directors. Both films give off a feeling that the directors had complete control over their projects. It seems that because of this both directors decided to just do what they are excellent at for an hour and a half each.

Rodriguez has become famous for his stylish action scenes and his always cool antihero’s. In Planet Terror we are treated to both of these things for the entire film. This should become annoying and harm the film but since it’s a zombie action film these two things only help out the film and it’s pace. Tarantino on the other hand has become famous for his brilliant dialogue and always brilliant use of music throughout his films. In Death Proof we get both of these things for the entire film too. The only thing is that in a chase/slasher/revenge/exploitation film the only thing that we really don’t want is a lot of women sitting around and talking for minutes at a time. At first the dialogue is very fun to hear but it starts getting old really quick. True, when the film does get to an action scene and picks up it’s pace the film delivers extremely well and leaves you in awe.

The problem is that these action scenes don’t come that often. Normally this would not be that big of problem but given that this film is supposed to be a “grindhouse film” the odd choice of having dialogue and music cues over any interaction with the bad guy or actions scenes just comes off as annoying and boring. This is especially true after you have just sat through Rodriguez’s Planet Terror. It’s not a bad film at all, there are enough fun scenes and Kurt Russell is brilliant enough in this one to save the movie from being a waste of time. The film is just not the fun film it’s supposed to be given the type of presentation we are given.

Grindhouse will be an interesting film to watch with a group of friends. Some will hate the entire film for it’s number of shocking scenes and it’s over the top sense of style and some will love the entire film for the same reasons. While others will love one film and hate the other. Also, if you are already a fan of grindhouse cinema you will love it for all it’s in-jokes and references.

I can’t say that both films are great and I can’t say if they both work. I can say though that you will have a very fun time at this one. The overall presentation and experience of watching a double feature from these two great directors along with some fake trailers is a very fun and rewarding experience. Watching it on a TV at home will not do it justice.

Grade: B+