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Grindhouse

Forty-five minutes of full-blown yawns and furtive glances at a watch, for two hours and 45 minutes of unadulterated hilarity and non-stop entertainment. It’s a trade-off.

It is easy to fall into the worlds created by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Grindhouse isn’t just a cheap way of seeing both Death Proof and Planet Terror for one low price, it is a chance to travel back in time to experience a grindhouse exploitation film.

The movie Planet Terror is precluded by a fake trailer after a cheesy '70s background proclaims a “Prevue of a Coming Attraction.” Planet Terror is the superior of the two films. It is campy and over-played—exactly as most original grindhouse films appeared in the 1960s and 1970s. It is also grotesque and bloody in a comedic way.

Death Proof comes after an intermission which is ten-times more funny and interesting than the first 45 minutes of Tarantino’s offering. The intermission is made up of three fake trailers: Werewolf Women of the S.S., Don’t and Thanksgiving; directed by Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright and Eli Roth, respectively. All are perfect diversions which perpetuate the parallel universe the viewer enters after purchasing the ticket, especially since the next 45 minutes are pitiful and worthless. Death Proof redeems itself by basically starting over halfway in and improving on the formula the second time around. Grindhouse is worth seeing, but don’t leave and miss the intermission. If you must, miss the first part of Death Proof and enjoy the rest.

If three-and-a-half hours at the multiplex or parked on the couch doesn’t phase you, and you understand the vivid history of exploitation films, you will appreciate Grindhouse. Grindhouses were known for showing two B-movies back to back, and were popular in the late 1960s and 1970s. The actual term “grindhouse” comes from the fact that many of the inner-city theatres which became grindhouses began as burlesque theatres which featured “bump and grind” dancing. Prepare yourself for a trip to the past—only at the grindhouse.

Written by: Tracy Elledge

Reviewers Rating: 9
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