Grindhouse
Planet Terror
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Death Proof
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The Weinstein Company, 2007
By Sam Linton
Posted April 9th, 2007
When reviewing a movie like Grindhouse, there’s a temptation to understate. No matter how good the film, one feels the urge to distance oneself from the joy of the experience, and provide a balanced perspective. To straight up gush about it would be too crass, uncritical, or just plain shill-y. Well, call me all of those things, because I can’t get over how awesome the experience was. I enjoyed this movie so much that I’m going to go out and buy a pet just so I can have a living being named Grindhouse.
Let me be clear: when I say that Grindhouse rocked, I’m not saying that just Planet Terror (Robert Rodriguez), or just Death Proof (Quentin Tarantino) rocked, or even that both movies rocked. I mean that both films, all the previews, and the entire concept of the release-as-double-feature, was a work of unabashed genius, pushing the meaning of “entertainment” to new and dangerous heights. And if I’m being hyperbolic, well, it matches the tone of the film.
So, where to start? Planet Terror was definitely the best choice for opener. It throws you right into the action and reinforces the current cinema trend of zombie movies being “the Shit”. Freddy Rodriguez and Rose McGowan offer sufficiently killer portrayals of badass and girl-badass, respectively, and the supporting cast is just outtasight. I’d name-drop here, but it’s really best for you to spot them yourself. If you can’t name them all, well, that’s what IMDB is for. The film has utterly grotesque zombie carnage, ridiculously bad running jokes that fit the film like a glove, a girl with a gun for a leg, and a generally over-the-top, all-or-nothing spirit that you can’t help but be infected by. (Infected? Get it? That’s a pun for those who watch the film, or have any knowledge whatsoever of zombie horror conventions.) Anyway, Planet Terror is exactly what you came to see and it leaves you howling for more. Hooting, too. I do not exaggerate. But, where to go from there?
Planet Terror was awesome, but two in a row? Isn’t that kind of overkill? This is where the genius comes in: the titular “two”in the film’s “one-two punch” (where the fake trailers are the dash). In contrast with the mother-of-god hyperviolence of Rodriguez’s opener, Tarantino’s Death Proof is a much more character-rich, suspenseful affair. Characters are built up only to be smashed down in the rudest, most visceral style. Not to say that the action isn’t there. Limbs fly – literally – but they’re limbs we’ve learned to care about. Death Proof has had less face time in the trailers than Planet Terror, and I can see why. It really depends on the fullness of the tale. I’ll drop two things, though: Kurt Russell is just ice cold, and if you haven’t heard of Zoë Bell before, you will. Seriously, I’m not one to fall in love with people I’ve only seen in the movies (the characters they portray are another matter), but fuck is this girl amazing! Her stint as the hood ornament is not to be missed. (I’ve said too much!)
So I know what you all want to know: “Which one was better?” Well, I’d have to say Death Proof. This is no slight to Rodriguez. I wouldn’t have stayed in the theatre long enough to even see Death Proof if I didn’t like Planet Terror. Both films rock, but only Tarantino’s had the ability to close the feature. Planet Terror followed by Death Proof works wonderfully, and I believe that Planet Terror’s cheese factor (which, to reiterate, counts wholly in its favour) would not have worked as well if it had followed Death Proof. For that reason, I give my ‘Best Picture’ nod to Tarantino. But really, to experience Grindhouse, see both. Hell, it’s a double feature.
