Grindhouse (2007)

Grindhouse is available in two versions. It has been split into the two segments, Death Proof and Planet Terror, for DVD. They are available in their uncut, European versions. The 191 minute original is not available on DVD.

Grindhouse is the type of movie you won't find anymore: a homage to other movies. First, I should probably explain what a grindhouse is. A grindhouse is a double feature that was around for the 70's and lasted into the early 80's. The movies were always very pulpy and bad.

This movie is in three parts. The first part is Planet Terror starring Rose McGowan as Cherry, a go-go dancer who loses her leg to zombies. Soon enough, the world is overrun by these zombies and the remaining people must fight for their lives. The second part is three fake trailers which are absolutely perfect. The third part is Death Proof starring Kurt Russell as a slimey ex-stunt man who takes girls in a ride in his stunt car on one condition they don't know about: their lives are taken in the car.

Grindhouse is great for it's clever script. It is so bad it's great! In Planet Terror, when Cherry is crying as she leaves her stage, the manager says "Cherry, it's go-go, not cry-cry." It is such a bad line that it is great. Among the script, the acting and stories are so bad that the movie is good. Both films include a missing reel, but the Death Proof one is restored for DVD. In the reel, a character gives Russell a lap dance. It's so stereotypical Tarantino and so fitting for the grindhouse genre.

The direction for everything is superb. Everything is aged, but in a way that it is not too much. When an event is about to happen, you can tell by the way that Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino age the film more. Well, they don't age it; it was aged digitally. Also, Eli Roth's trailer "Thanksgiving" is my favorite part of the film because of his good direction.

Although my review probably makes Grindhouse sound bad, it's very enjoyable. A few laughs and some good scares makes for a pretty awesome movie. Tarantino and Rodriguez have made something right up their alley and should keep making movies like this. It's too bad this one flopped at the box office.