Grindhouse (2007)

Directors:

Robert Rodriguez
Eli Roth

Writers:

Robert Rodriguez (written by) (fake trailer segment "Machete")
Robert Rodriguez (written by) (segment)

Release Date:

6 April 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The sleaze-filled saga of an exploitation double feature.

Plot:

Two full length feature horror movies written by Quentin Tarantino & Robert Rodriguez put together as a two film feature. Including fake movie trailers in between both movies.

Plot Keywords:

Exploitation | Death | Zombie | Sheriff | Grindhouse

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Danny Trejo	...	Machete (segment "Machete")
Cheech Marin	...	Padre Benicio Del Toro (segment "Machete")
Rose McGowan	...	Cherry Darling (segment "Planet Terror") / Pam (segment "Death Proof")
Freddy Rodríguez	...	El Wray (segment "Planet Terror")
Josh Brolin	...	Dr. William Block (segment "Planet Terror")
Marley Shelton	...	Dr. Dakota Block (segments "Planet Terror" / "Death Proof")
Jeff Fahey	...	J.T. (segment "Planet Terror") / The Well-Dressed Man (segment "Thanksgiving") / The Boss (segment "Machete")
Michael Biehn	...	Sheriff Hague (segment "Planet Terror") / The Sheriff (segment "Thanksgiving")
Rebel Rodriguez	...	Tony Block (segment "Planet Terror")
Naveen Andrews	...	Abby (segment "Planet Terror")
Bruce Willis	...	Lt. Muldoon (segment "Planet Terror")
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Romey (segment "Planet Terror")
Stacy Ferguson	...	Tammy (segment "Planet Terror")
Nicky Katt	...	Joe (segment "Planet Terror") / Store clerk (segment "Death Proof")
Hung Nguyen	...	Dr. Crane (segment "Planet Terror")

Also Known As:

Grind House (USA) (alternative spelling)
Grindhouse: Double Feature (USA) (trailer title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use.

Runtime:

191 min | Canada:189 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Ireland:18 ('Death Proof') | Singapore:R21 | UK:18 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:MA | South Korea:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

"The poem that Jungle Julia has her listeners recite to Butterfly is an excerpt of the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost." - it is also a reference to the 70's thriller Telefon (1977)," where the poem was used as a posthypnotic signal to activate Russian sleeper agents.

Goofs:

Continuity: In "Planet Terror", when the survivors are about to leave the Bone Shack, there is a lot of blood on El Wray's shirt, but when they stop outside for a brief moment in front of the Bone Shack, all the blood on his shirt disappears, and then when he pops open the trunk to Dakota's car, some blood reappears.

Quotes:

Jungle Julia: The woods are lovely, dark, and deep.
Jungle Julia: And I've got promises to keep.
Jungle Julia: And miles to go before I sleep.
Jungle Julia: Did you hear that butterfly?
Jungle Julia: Miles to go before you sleep.

Movie Connections:

References Young Guns (1988)

Soundtrack:

Riot In Thunder Alley

Masterpiece Throwback

Grindhouse (2007)

**** (out of 4)

Sure, these movies are far from a real grindhouse but you're not going to have a better time inside a theater. With the fake trailers, messed up prints and bloody action, this movie is unlike any other ever made and that can only mean fun.

Planet Terror Robert Rodriguez's horror film about a chemical outbreak, which turns the citizens of a small Texas town into zombies. The only thing standing in the way of the zombies going worldwide is a one-legged stripper (Rose McGowan) and her sharpshooting boyfriend (Freddy Rodriquez). This throwback to the low budget shockers of the 1970's hits all the right marks and also turns out to be the goriest film I've ever seen. How in the world this got away with an R-rating is a mystery to me because this thing is non-stop gore from start to finish and we're not talking about little spots of the red stuff here and there. Each single death (out of hundreds) has tons of the red stuff through heads being ripped off to zombies munching on some flesh. McGowan is the perfect "B" actress to make her role very memorable and goddamn was it nice seeing Jeff Fahey once again. Tom Savini, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolin and various others fill out the cast. The "grindhouse" effect of a cut up print with scratches and missing reels are used perfectly here. There's some humor throughout but the politically incorrect joke of a kid playing with a gun was a real hoot. Rodriquez fills the film with countless "bad" moments in great homage to the films this is trying to be like. If you're a fan of this type of thing then you'll love it. Others beware.

Death Proof Quentin Tarantino's homage to those car chase movies features Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike, a psychopath who loves to stalk women in his death proof car. The girls, including Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Tracie Thomas, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, stunt woman Zoe Bell and Rose McGowan (again) are all perfectly cast and really nail Tarantino's dialogue but the real star here is the terrific return to form of Russell. Russell wasn't the first choice by the director but damn was he a great one. Russell just has that perfect smile and twisted laugh to make this psychopath so charming that you'd like to have a beer with him even though you know he'd probably kill you afterwards. Russell nails all the right marks making Stuntman Mike live right up there with Snake Plissken. This film is certainly a lot different than the first. This film takes its time in getting to know the female characters and I think this pays off in the end. Tarantino does a great job referencing other pictures so this will add some charm to die hard fans of the genre. Then there's the incredible chase at the end, which has to go down as one of the greatest ever. The chase is incredibly thrilling but it's also just a lot of fun. Seeing the girls being tortured by the "always having fun" Stuntman Mike was just a terrific time at the movies. I won't spoil anything but when the girl's seek revenge it's something that will make you want to cheer in laughter. Once again, if you're a fan then you'll love it but others beware.