By Deandra Hoppe
The only thing better than the exploitation films of the 60s and 70s, with all the adrenaline-pumped car chase scenes and random murders of well-endowed women, is a tribute to these films in a double-feature from directors as talented as Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.
In the new movie “Grindhouse,” audiences get two movies for the price of one, plus a couple of commercials in between. The first is a zombie movie called “Planet Terror” that was directed by Rodriguez.
A small town becomes infected with murderous zombies, created from a biochemical gas that is released into the air. A group of people is led by Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) and the town sheriff to take on the undead. If that’s not enough to keep viewers interested, there’s Cherry (Rose McGowan), Wray’s girlfriend equipped with a machine gun for a leg.
The second movie is “Death Proof” directed by Quentin Tarantino.
A man named Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) stalks girls and tries to kill them using his “death proof” stunt car. With a plot like this, the movie is bound to be just as gruesome and full of gore as the first.
The movies are not just about violence for violence’s sake, however. In an interview with Freddy Rodriguez, he said, “[People are not] going to sit there and cover their eyes and say, ‘Oh man, this could actually happen.’ It’s funny. It’s just a fun ride to be a part of.”
What also makes this movie different from typical exploitation films is that the characters are more developed and played by A-list actors. For instance, Cherry is introduced at the beginning of the movie.
She has the ambition of one day becoming a doctor, but finds herself trapped in her artificial world as a go-go dancer. In contrast, the actual doctor (Marley Shelton) seems to wish her life was more exciting.
In “Death Proof,” Tarantino continues his portrayal of a dominant woman character with two character, Zoe (Zoe Bell) and Kim (Tracie Thoms). In the end, the women prove they can beat their pursuer.
The crazy car chases and stunts provide an intense atmosphere for all in the theater. An interesting thing to note is that Bell did all of her own stunts, which is amazing in itself. Also, there were no special effects in the car chases. Everything in the movie is as it appears.
What is really interesting about both these films is that a lot of the actors from the first movie also are in the second film, at times even playing the same character.
The police officers from the first movie are seen in the second, as well as the doctor. Also, Tarantino acts in both movies.
Most people familiar with Tarantino’s films know that music is a big part of his movies.
Although it’s not as big of a factor in this movie, a lot of the songs come from the jukebox in the bar. The music is mainly 60s and 70s car chase music. “Planet Terror” wasn’t notable at all.
All in all, “Grindhouse” is a movie people are going to want to see over and over again. It provides comedy, action and everything anyone could want in a movie.
From zombie gore to high-speed chases, this double-feature will not fail to entertain viewers. This film is sure to become a classic.
– DeAndra Hoppe
