Grindhouse: Planet Terror & Death Proof

It certainly isn’t necessary to be familiar with B movies or exploitation films to appreciate Grindhouse, although it wouldn’t hurt. I definitely fall into the former category, having never really seen any such B films, with the exception of the movies screened for Mystery Science Theater. From my understanding, B films became popular in the 50s – 70s as film studios began making fewer films with big budgets. This meant that less A movies were available for theaters, but since the method of presenting double features was still popular and profitable, B movies filled in for the second half, which were being made in a short amount of time with very low budgets and unknown actors. Exploitation films are similar, but focus on “exploiting” the profitable teenage scene, who tended to gravitate towards horror and sci-fi films, and even sexual romps (now who says film history textbooks aren’t useful??).

Oh right, about the movie. From beginning to end, Grindhouse is pretty spectacular. Not to mention fake trailers and commercials that are directed by Rob Zombie, Eli Roth (Hostel), and Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), which play during the “intermission,” so don’t miss that, especially the first trailer which has an unusual but awesome cameo. There are also typical B movie gimmicks throughout the entire show, such as poor film quality and missing reels. Now, Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror opens the double feature with a full-on zombie flick, which includes a lot of gross-out moments of blood and puss. Rose McGowan is particularly badass as a go-go dancer turned zombie-killer as her amputated leg is replaced with a machine gun. Planet Terror is full of moments that are simultaneously disgusting and hilarious, and always enjoyable.

While Planet Terror felt like it embodied more of an exploitation film, Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof definitely has a different tone and is simply more of a B movie. It sort of starts off slow with a group of annoying 20-something girls basically talking about their sex lives either in a car or in a bar. Kurt Russell plays Stuntman Mike, who drives a death proof car and just so happens to have a thing for tormenting girls. It takes awhile to get to the central group of girls, which includes Rosario Dawson and the incredible Zoe Bell (a stuntwoman playing herself and also Uma Thurman’s stunt-double in Kill Bill) who does all of her own stunts, including straddling a car at who knows how many miles per hour. There is an incredible car chase sequence that is so tense and thrilling and even funny. All I can say is that the ending is so great that I found myself clapping and cheering along with everyone else in the theater, which is usually something I never do, except for maybe at midnight screenings of say, Star Wars or LOTR. Needless to say, Grindhouse is a fun, gruesome, and naughty time at the movies.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, respectively
Runtime: 191 minutes