THE HALLOWEEN HIT LIST

GRINDHOUSE (2007)

Rated: R

191 mins

Death Proof Written & Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Planet Terror Written & Directed by: Robert Rodriguez

Grindhouse isn’t so much a movie as it is a movie going experience.  Long ago, before the creation of DVD, there was something known as a VHS tape.  And long ago, in the 60’s and 70’s, there were low-rate theaters named Grindhouses that premiered exploitation films. These theaters were often dirty and every now and then their films stopped working altogether.  There was something about the atmosphere that stuck with Quentin Tarantino and Rodriguez, and as soon as you watch one of the fake trailers (made by Eli Roth, Rob Zombie, Edgar Wright and Rodriguez) the sooner you will realize how big of a love letter this experience really is to horror fanatics. Eli Roth’s trailer for Thanksgiving must be seen to be believed.

Grindhouse, at it’s core, is a double-feature.  Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror is an over-the-top zombie film, complete with a girl who replaces her missing limb with a machine gun.  Bruce Campbell would be proud.  The second film, and my favorite of the two, is Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof which is a unique blend of slasher and road vengeance pictures.  Kurt Russell is the highlight here, as Stuntman Mike who murders woman by causing car wrecks. He’s later proven to be a coward when roles are reversed.

October is the perfect time to watch the entirety of Grindhouse.  So sit back, relax and pass around the shots!  And BAM, you awaken to find yourself in a sticky seat surrounded  by possible dangerous strangers, watching two exploitation “classics”.

Grindhouse includes:

– 4 fake trailers

– 2 feature films

– 3 hours of entertainment

– Kurt fuckin‘ Russell