Duration | 1h 45m | Rating (UK) | 18 |
Source of story | An original screenplay written to partner “Death Proof” as a “Grindhouse” presentation. | ||
Director | Robert Rodriguez | ||
Writers/Script | Robert Rodriguez | ||
Starring | Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Bruce Willis, Quenton Tarantino |
Elevator Pitch: In a isloated Texas town, adjacent to an army base, the inhabitants are turned into zombie like people by the accidental release of a bioweapon, who balloon in grotesques and kill and dismember those who are not affected. A doctor works away in the hospital, ssisted or not by this wife, whose lesbian lover attempts to get to her. Amidst the chaos a truck driver and a stripper collect a group of possible survivors who take on the undead, and then the military who are surviving by using a special gas, but will they make it to safety?
Content: There is pole dancing and skimpy female clothing, and inferred sex although the film is damaged before it has gone far, probably some drinking but one would hardly notice. A load of extreme violence and people are torn apart and eaten, shot with a variety of weapons and burnt to a crisp in explosions. At one point there is a notice to say a reel is missing – conveniently omitting the sex, but the film goes on, and we hardly notice what is missing because the plot is intentionally haphazard.
A View: Only by reading about it have I understood what this “Grindhouse” stuff was about, intentionally exploitative films in the 70s and 80s filmed in a particular way and presented continuously on a circuit of dowdy cinemas, in the hope of attracting at least a minimum number of clients. Judging by the size of the art and make-up departments, this film must have cost more than the actual Grindhuse films did. But having said that, I quite enjoyed it even though I had to look away some of the time. So, read about Grindhouse first and then have a go at this. Worth it if you download them both (This and Death Proof were presented as a double feature on general release).
Additional Info: Harvey Weinstein attempted to prevent Rose McGowan from being cast, because she had outed him for sexual assault. Weinstein thereafter slashed the publcity budget for the film.
Discussion
No comments yet.