Grindhouse (2007)

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's homage to exploitation double features in the 60s and 70s with two back-to-back cult films that include previews of coming attractions between them.

Directors:

Robert Rodriguez, Eli Roth

Writers:

Robert Rodriguez, Rob Zombie

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Danny Trejo

7 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell	...	Stuntman Mike (segment "Death Proof")
Zoë Bell	...	Zoë Bell (segment "Death Proof") (as Zoe Bell)
Rosario Dawson	...	Abernathy (segment "Death Proof")
Vanessa Ferlito	...	Butterfly (segment "Death Proof")
Sydney Tamiia Poitier	...	Jungle Julia (segment "Death Proof")
Tracie Thoms	...	Kim (segment "Death Proof")
Rose McGowan	...	Pam (segment "Death Proof") / Cherry (segment "Planet Terror")
Jordan Ladd	...	Shanna (segment "Death Proof") / Judy (segment "Thanksgiving")
Mary Elizabeth Winstead	...	Lee (segment "Death Proof")
Quentin Tarantino	...	Warren (segment "Death Proof") / Rapist #1 (segment "Planet Terror")
Marcy Harriell	...	Marcy (segment "Death Proof")
Eli Roth	...	Dov (segment "Death Proof") / Tucker (segment "Thanksgiving")
Omar Doom	...	Nate (segment "Death Proof")
Michael Bacall	...	Omar (segment "Death Proof")
Monica Staggs	...	Lanna Frank (segment "Death Proof")

Storyline

A double-bill of thrillers that recall both filmmakers' favorite exploitation films. "Grindhouse" (a downtown movie theater in disrepair since its glory days as a movie palace known for "grinding out" non-stop double-bill programs of B-movies) is presented as one full-length feature comprised of two individual films helmed separately by each director. "Death Proof," is a rip-roaring slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while "Planet Terror" shows us a view of the world in the midst of a zombie outbreak. The films are joined together by clever faux trailers that recall the '50s exploitation drive-in classics.

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Plot Keywords:

double feature | original story | zombie | real twins playing twins | anthropophagus | 

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Taglines:

You might feel a little prick. (segment "Planet Terror")

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

TFM [France] West Video [Russia]

Country:

USA Mexico Canada UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 April 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grind House

Filming Locations:

Texas Chili Parlor, 1409 Lavaca St, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$53,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,596,613, 6 April 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,031,037, 17 June 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, Big Talk Productions, Dartmouth International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

191 min 189 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The hood ornament on Stuntman Mike's car in Death Proof (2007) is an homage to the chrome duck ornament used in Convoy (1978).

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Goofs

Deliberate mistake, perhaps, that when Jungle Julie mentions, several times, the group Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, she says Mitch instead of Mick each time.

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Quotes

Kim: I'm the horniest motherfucker on the road!

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Crazy Credits

Just below the listing for Quentin's personal chef is the following credit: "Personal Chef for Mr. Rodriguez - Robert Rodriguez"

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Alternate Versions

In Death Proof, after Zoe flies off the hood, she walks back to the car and says, "Phew that was a close one". In the Unrated Extended version it then cuts right to her line, "So, where's the maniac?" In the U.S. Theatrical Double Feature version there's some extra lines of dialog in between: As Zoe notices that Abernathy and Kim have been crying she remarks, "You guys look like shit. Who died?" Abernathy then asks Zoe if she's okay, to which she replies, "Well, I'm gonna have a hell of a bruise on my bum, but aside from that I'll be sweet."

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Connections

References Chinatown (1974)

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Soundtracks

Time Out
(uncredited)
Music by Stanley Myers
Plays during the "Acuna Boys" commercial

User Reviews

The first classic of the new century

Grindhouse is all about excess. Excess blood, gore, puss, explosions, near non-stop laughter and violence. The only thing you will find little of in it is nudity. It's typical Tarantino-paranoid-about-nudity and what we get are two distinct halves to one great film.

If you loved Tarantino's "Jackie Brown", then you'll love "Death Proof". D.P. is basically Jackie Brown on wheels. He rambles on and on and on about completely un-funny and pointless things for nearly 50 minutes with little else happening. I am quite disappointed with QT, as he is my favourite director/writer but I think he is stretching his limit a bit too far. He has fallen into a self-indulgent groove of non-stop banter or over-the-top violence. The end is capped off with probably one THE BEST car chases in history that lasts for about 20 amazing minutes that will undoubtedly give you a heart attack it's so well made. Also, Kurt Russell is NOT the main star of it as many people believe and I'll leave it at that.

Rodriguez's "Planet Terror" on the other hand is a completely off the wall, no holds barred shmorgassboard of absolute cinematic enjoyment. People blow up when shot with revolvers, gore is splattered at least every couple minutes once it gets past the first two minutes and it will have you laughing harder than any Tarantino film ever has. It is so freakin' good that I think my eyes fell out and had an orga*m due to the cinematic bliss that is "Planet Terror".

Rose McGowan will undoubtedly become the new pin-up girl and sex symbol due to her role of Cherry Darling; a Go-Go dancer (unfortunately not a stripper) that eventually gets an assault rifle for a leg. Who knew that an assault rifle for a leg could ever be THAT hot?

There are no words in the history of mankind that can help me explain to anyone the awesomeness that is displayed in "Grindhouse". "Death Proof" may drag it down a bit, but is nonetheless essential for the film as a whole. This is exactly the movie that Hollywood needed to have kicked up it's butt. Hopefully this will pave the way for more "extreme" films or higher rated films in general; although I'm still unsure if it would be a good idea to go to the extremes that French cinema is experiencing at the moment, but would nonetheless be welcome.

IMO, "Grindhouse" is THE BEST FILM since "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" in 1966 for pure filmic enjoyment. Sit back, relax, and prepare to have your head explode! Go see it now or you'll regret it!