Tarantino and Rodgriguez Grind It Out

The twin Troublemakers look to the low budget past for inspiration.

I recently watched Grindhouse, the double feature from 2007 that was made as a tribute to the schlocky horror and action pics of the 70's and early 80's. Auteurs Robert Rodgriguez and Quintan Tarantino have teamed up before for the Vampire flick From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). Dawn had an almost schitzophrenic nature between Tarantino's talky yet tense first half versus Rodgriquez' hyperviolent second half. They reversed the batting order this time with Rodriguez going first but the results are pretty much the same.

The Rodriguez led Planet Terror is about a chemical weapon gone berzerk as most people exposed to the chemical agent become melting murderous zombies. As usual for this type of film, a clutch of survivors band together led by a kick ass loner and a reluctant stripper to try to escape the zombified town. Terror is very true to its roots with the sloppy makeup, blood splattering violence and super heroine in the form of Rose McGowan as Cherry Darling, the stripper with an AK-47 for a leg. Rodriguez revels in his cliche inducing turn with a very 80's B movie vibe in the lighting and synthy soundtrack.

Tarantino delivers Death Proof, the story of a murderous stunt man played by Kurt Russell who kills beautiful woman with his stunt car. Death Proof is more 70's and pulpy (natch) in its approach of fringe characters taking the lead. Unlike his half of Dusk Till Dawn, Tarantino can't keep the tension running which makes the first 2/3rds of his part dull dull dull. Even an engaging Sydney Poitier (daughter of Mr Tibbs himself) can't keep the eyelids up. But once Russell goes up against some stuntwomen in a Dodge Charger, Death Proof roars to life in a frenzy of manical stunts and car smashing action.

In between the two movies there are some fantastic fake trailers for nonexistent movies like the Mexican Immigrant actioner Machete, the horror sexploitation of Warewolf Women of the SS and a fantastic 70's styled horror flick Don't. The trailers are the best part of Grindhouse, as these plus the last half hour of Death Proof are the only points where they exceed the standards of the films their paying tribute to. Grindhouse is eventually a bit of a disappointment because the two films rarely rise above the junk they're mocking.

But Grindhouse has done one thing for me, it's reminded me of all those B and C level action films I used to watch growing up at the dollar theater. Movies like Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects, American Ninja and anything with Steven Seagal were glorious pieces of trash to me. And I also fondly remember reading the movie reviews of Joe Bob Briggs, the Drive In movie critic who rated movies according to how much nudity, violence and explosions were included. As my personal Grindhouse tribute, I'll close with a Joe Bob styled review:

10 breasts, six butts, 50 dead bodies, 22 explosions, eight car crashes, double switchblade fu, stripper leg AK-47 fu, tire to the face fu, melting zombie penis fu, Kurt Russell fu, Double duty Rose McGowan fu and the face of Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas carved out like a Jack O Lantern fu. Two and a half stars, Mr Mike says check it out.