Missing Reels and Hell Bound Wheels

Rating: 8/10 (9 April 2007)

The first feature, Planet Terror, was great but had much more action and gore than its real grindhouse counterpart. The second feature, Death Proof was closer to the real thing - maybe too close. Special effects have always been expensive, whether CGI or makeup and prosthetics. To make a profit, B-Movie makers (like Roger Coreman) had to fill much of their movies with talk, meaningless footage or teases of greater violence or sex to come. Many of these movies were boring. The only reason you waited around was for the payoff. There might be only one per film. Death Proof has a long dialog between some of the main characters that slows things down or at least seems to since it comes right after the over-the-top Rodriguez gore-fest. But both movies deliver in the "OH DAMN!!" department with scenes of stark carnage. Planet Terror had a lot more humor, some of it even good. Some of the humor was strictly visual and some from the dialog. By the end of the movie my wife and I were both satisfied with Quentin Tarantino's and Robert Rodriguez's efforts - we were entertained - which is more than most of the original grindhouse features could boast. I used to live 3 days a weeks on 42nd street between 7th and 8th avenues. It was the only place to see double features cheap, even if you did take your life in your own hands to do so. These films had no redeeming social value, did not even know how to spell "PC" and any movement they represented had more to do with the bum in the front aisle releasing his bowels than with any political ideology or cause - they had no respect for race, religion or gender. They were nerve wracking and sick and resembled present day film-making more than any film of their time - at least in some ways. It is hard to review these movies because I see them as both movies of today and attempts to mimic genres long mislaid with those missing film cans. Why not give them a try - just do not sit in the seats forward of the balcony - people die there.