How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★☆☆☆☆ 7 November 2007
This a movie review of PLANET TERROR. |
“Give him the gun. Give him all the guns,” Sheriff Hague (Michael Biehn)
Now it’s writer-director Robert Rodriquez’s turn to offer up his slice of the GRINDHOUSE pie. For those who do not already know, PLANET TERROR was meant to be shown with Quentin Tarantino’s DEATH PROOF as part of a retro double-bill that included fake movie trailers (from directors Rob Zombie, Eli Roth and Edgar Wright). Due to GRINDHOUSE tanking in America, it was decided, rather shamefacedly, to split the project in two so that Britain paid twice for half an experience. Karma reigns, as DEATH PROOF appears to have faded pretty fast from UK cinemas.
Now it’s writer-director Robert Rodriquez’s turn to offer up his slice of the GRINDHOUSE pie. For those who do not already know, PLANET TERROR was meant to be shown with Quentin Tarantino’s DEATH PROOF as part of a retro double-bill that included fake movie trailers (from directors Rob Zombie, Eli Roth and Edgar Wright). Due to GRINDHOUSE tanking in America, it was decided, rather shamefacedly, to split the project in two so that Britain paid twice for half an experience. Karma reigns, as DEATH PROOF appears to have faded pretty fast from UK cinemas.
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PLANET TERROR arrives, again without the fake trailers bar Rodriguez’s own for MACHETE, and while it is a more conventional horror genre film than DEATH PROOF, it is more fulfilling. Like I AM LEGEND, DAWN OF THE DEAD and 28 DAYS LATER this is about the end of world undead-style. Scientist Abby (Naveen Andrews) and Lt. Muldoon (Bruce Willis) cause a toxic agent to be released in Texas turning the population to mutant zombies. Various citizens of the town band together for survival: Trucker El Wray (a heroic Freddy Rodriquez), ex-pole dance-turned wannabe stand-up comedian Cherry Darling (a vampish, no nonsense Rose McGowan), Dr. Dakota Block (a trauma attracting Mary Shelton), barbeque-sauce-perfecting restaurant owner J. T. Hague (THE LAWNMOWER MAN’s Jeff Fahey) and Sheriff Hague (80s sci-fi action legend Michael Biehn). Carnage and gore ensue.
More consistent with the use of faux damaged print and grimy feel, PLANET TERROR lacks the B-movie thrills and modern spins that made the director’s other such films (FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, THE FACULTY) so satisfying. There is a nagging feeling that had he known this would be a standalone movie then the director would have ratcheted up the energy; though there are some nice set pieces, El Wray rescuing his girl from a chaotic hospital and Cherry’s machine-gun leg proving that a woman with a machine-gun leg should not be tussled with. As it is, this is a real step down from the brilliant SIN CITY.