Review of 'Death Proof'

death_proof.jpg Death Proof is the second part of the “Grindhouse” double feature which is a tribute to the old “Grindhouse” films – Poor acting, low production values, blood, (lots of) guts, (lots of) sex and (lots of) swearing. In this case, the low production values are not really there but everything else is (the “poor acting” is more like camping it up…that is, intentional poor acting) with the “missing reel” and slightly imperfect film quality (intentionally added, again). The trailers at the beginning are also quite amusing and fit in perfectly with the whole “Grindhouse” conceit.

The story is quite simple: Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russel) is a down-and-out ex-stuntman who seems to get his kicks in causing pain to young women by attacking him with his “Death Proof” car (he is safe inside, in the driver seat, but anyone else is not quite so safe). Of course, there is a twist when he picks on the wrong few ladies…You can probably see what is coming a mile away…

Kurt Russel plays Stuntman Mike perfectly: Shallow, cool but with a hint of vulnerability in his dealings with other people. A large part of the movie is spent filming the groups of young women talking to one another (in a bar, in a car, etc) but when the action picks up on the road (particularly in the later half) does it get more interesting.

In my opinion, this is the weaker of the two Grindhouse movies (Planet Terror has far more plot and is more interesting) but it is entertaining nonetheless. I do wonder whether the style of the movie has completely overwhelmed any story or character though…

Rating: “A bit better than average”

Review Date: 2008-05-14


Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Studio: Dimension Films

Year: 2007

Length: 114 minutes

Genre: Action/Adventure

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028528/


Other reviewed films by Quentin Tarantino: