Kathryn Respicio

English 1B
Claire Nava
23 February 2009
Welcome to the Grindhouse
In 2007, stylistic directors, Quentin Tarintino and Robert Rodriguez, released their most
innovative project to date. They called it the Grindhouse. Grindhouse capitalizes on the style of
sleazy, exploitive B-movies that came out in the 70s. The movie was sold as a double feature
having moviegoers see two movies for the price of one. The first film in the double feature is
Robert Rodriguezs Planet Terror a gross-out zombie action film starring a group of unlikely
heroes whom band together against the towns zombie-turned army. The second film is Death
Proof, directed by Quentin Tarintino. This slasher film showcases serial killer, Stuntman Mike, as
he hunts down beautiful women and kills them with his Death Proof stunt car. Both films offer
one hell of a thrill ride as each reminisces the glory days of grindhouse films, while reimagining
the concept for a new generation of moviegoers.
A grindhouse is a term given to American theaters that showed exploitation films in the
1970s. These films were often shown in defunct burlesque clubs where stripteases and bumpand-grind dances were performed. The films are referred to as exploitation films because these
films exploited salacious subject matter such as sleazy pornography, violence, and hard-core
thrills. The qualities of these films were low budget. And since film reels were shipped from
theater to theater, the reels usually ended up in bad condition from being worn out. However, the
brain-warp effect of damaged reels gave these films their signature and vintage look. These
movies were often shown as double features - giving moviegoers the experience of watching
these eccentric movies for the price of one. While these movies endured heavy criticism at the
time, they have garnered critical praise and major cult followings since then. Using the basic

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traits of grindhouse films and their own artistic anecdotes, each director makes a signature
grindhouse film that pays tribute to these classic, sleazy films of the 70s.
In zombie exploitation films, zombies are normally depicted as mindless, decaying
corpses hungry for human brains and flesh. In this film, Rodriguez imitates this zombie
stereotype. However, what make his zombie film different are his eccentric characters, over-thetop special effects, and raunchy music. By combining all of these elements together, Rodriguez
makes his own signature grindhouse film complete with humor, chills, thrills, and entertainment.
Rodriguez makes his characters just as eccentric and ridiculous as the plot. They are
meant to be underdeveloped and shallow because they only serve as the action heroes of the
story. However, Rodriguez makes up for their lack of development by giving them sassy
personalities and attitudes. He gives his characters a dark sense of humor to bring light into their
macabre situation. Also, he does not use the typical stereotype of an action hero to depict his
characters. Instead, they are normal, average people who are not looking to save the world. They
are cowards who are forced to save humanity from the zombie virus.
The best example of this is the character of Cherry Darling, played by Rose McGowan.
Cherry Darling starts out as a go-go dancer who yearns to find a bigger purpose in her life. She
does not have realistic goals in her future, nor is she courageous as the typical protagonist. But
after her true love, the mysterious outlaw El Wray, gives her the confidence to become the hero
she is meant to be (along with a machine gun to replace the leg that was eaten by zombies), she
steps up to be the hero humanity has never seen before. The image of Cherry Darling with the
machine gun leg has become the iconic image associated with Planet Terror.
While Rodriguez uses his characters to bring humor into the movie, he uses visual effects
and music to create the horrifying tone of the movie. Just like his characters, Rodriguez makes
the visual effects over the top to match the ludicrous story. The visual effects provide some of the
most terrifying moments in the story. They also upgrade the campiness that zombie movies had.

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One would say the excessive amount of blood and gore used takes the scare factor away from the
film. However, it is this campy look of over-the-top gore and violence that makes a grindhouse
film what it is. It exploits these elements of violence and horror to make it an exploitive zombie
film. The visual effects are heightened with the personal touches added by the Rodriguez. He
purposely damages the film reels to give Planet Terror the vintage look of grindhouse films.
He also uses music to heighten the suspense and action scenes of the movie. Hearing the
greasy, grimy sounds of Rodriguezs musical score (which he also composed himself) set the
tone of the movie. From the theme song set to Cherry Darlings opening striptease, to the her
Dance of Death as she single-handedly destroys the zombie military base, the musical score of
Planet Terror serves as the heartbeat of the film. It gives the action scenes the extra push needed
to make it bigger than life. Rodriguez uses these basic elements to spoof grindhouse films. He
orchestrates his eccentric characters, excessive gore, and campy visual effects to make his own
signature bad film which was how grindhouse films were criticized.
Quentin Tarintino takes a different approach to making his own grindhouse film. While
Rodriguez uses Planet Terror to spoof grindhouse films, Tarintino pays tribute to these films by
referencing them through visual images and character references. In Death Proof, Tarintino
makes a slasher film unique to films of that genre. The villain of the story, Stuntman Mike,
played menacingly by Kurt Russell, kills women in order to satisfy his sexual appetite. He does
so with his 1969 Dodge Challenger, making the car death proof so he is able to survive the car
carnage he creates. Tarintino showcases more of his brilliant writing in the tradition of Pulp
Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. He is also able to create one of the most astounding car chase scenes
in history. Tarintino creates a brilliant film that proves him to be one of the most imaginative
writers and directors of modern film.

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While Tarintino creates an interesting villain for the film, he also creates interesting
female characters to play against Russell. His female characters, also known as The Girls, are
developed with badass personalities like the characters of Planet Terror. But what makes these
characters developed is the dialogue Tarintino creates for them. While he was able to prove
himself as a great writer with the dialogue he creates for his male characters in Pulp Fiction, he
also creates entertaining dialogue for his female leads. He is able to use his characters to
reference classic grindhouse films, such as Vanishing Point and Too Lame Black. Tarintino
provides the audiences with insight on why these movies were good by having the Girls
explain it in their dialogue. An example of this would be the reference of the car from Vanishing
Point. Two of the girls, played by stuntwoman Zoe Bell and Tracie Thoms, explain their love of
cars by mentioning the 1969 Dodge Challenger. Oddly enough, this is also the car Stuntman
Mike uses to stalk to his victims. It is not enough for Tarintino to explain what was so great
about the car. He shows its motor power and endurance with one of the most exciting car chase
scenes ever to be filmed.
At the climax of the film, there is a showdown between the Girls and Stuntman Mike.
The car chase starts with Tracie Thoms and Rosario Dawson playing Ships Mast: a game in
which Bell lays down on top of the hood of the car with the car going 100 mph! However, our
favorite serial killer catches up with these ladies and proceeds to try to run the car off the rode.
Thoms character is able to dodge the rams of the Dodge, while keeping Bell on the hood of the
car. The scene is suspenseful and thrilling as Bell is literally hanging on the hood, holding on to
the car for dear life. However, the game is turned on Stuntman Mike as the Girls decide to seek
revenge against him. This entire sequence lasts for twenty minutes. The car chase is excellently
choreographed with the cars chasing each other through freeways and on the outskirts of

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Lebanon, Tennessee. No CGI or excessive gore is used in this scene either. Tarintino completely
focuses on the cars along with the talents of Bell to hold on to the car, making the scene as
realistic as possible. Watching the scene is unbelievable and astounding a real treat for car
fanatics.
Complete with Technicolor Our Feature Presentation signs and ads for Acuna Bros.
restaurants (also referenced in other Tarintino movies), Grindhouse proves to be a worthy,
authentic grindhouse film. While the movie received praise from critics everywhere, the movie
was a major box office bomb. Even though the quality of the film was excellent, the concept of
grindhouse films is too old for new audiences to accept. Perhaps this film will withstand the test
of time to garner critical praise in the future much like the grindhouse films that inspired its
creation. Grindhouse and grindhouse films give audiences the chance to appreciate film in its
most entertaining form. This movie has to be one of my favorite films of all time. I will never
have another viewing experience like the one Grindhouse offered. I do not think I have ever been
scared or laughed so hard in a movie theater. It is a shame that not that many people got a chance
to watch this movie. The stories and the effects offer entertainment for the moviegoer looking for
a good time at the movies. Grindhouse reminds audiences of the magic of movies showing that
even at its worst form, films can still inspire and entertain our imagination.