Review of Planet Terror (2007) by Bryant H — 12 Nov 2010

Though it was released 2nd on DVD (and just in time for Halloween), "Planet Terror" was actually the first half of Quentin Tarantino & Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse double-feature. PT is Rodriguez's best film to date, right up with "Sin City".

Where DP was a homage to the slasher/car chase flick, PT is a homage to B-movie zombie flicks--the kind shown at midnight drive-in screenings--while, brilliantly incorporating the ethics of Grindhouse cinema: hardcore sex-ploitation and violence, cheesy acting, unbelievably bad plots, dirty scrathes on the film prints, occasionally inaudible sound, laughable camera work, and yes, "missing reels".

Rodriguez practically outdoes himself with the energetic, over-the-top action he's known for. The bloodshed in this film is probably the most I've ever seen in any zombie flick--and it never lets up, until its over! The mayhem is heightened by a very great cast that includes Freddy Rodriguez (no relation to Robert), Josh Brolin, Naveen Andrews, Marley Shelton, Michael Biehn, Jeff Fahey (or as I refer to him as, 'The douchebag that blew up Sonny Crockett's Daytona'), Michael Parks, Tarantino, and a cameo appearance from Bruce Willis.

But the stand-out is the ultra-hot Rose McGowan--and it's an obvious reason why! Simply put, Planet Terror is incredibly fun classic, from beginning to end. Still, in comparison to Death Proof, I'd say DP was better, by a hair.