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Planet Terror (2007)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Time Out rating

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3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Robert Rodriguez’s zombie actioner was originally conceived as part of the ’70s pastiche double-bill ‘Grindhouse’ – the other half, Tarantino’s ‘Death Proof’, came out over here a few weeks ago – and it’s impossible to sever from that context. Which is to say, it’s a hyper-referential, super-visceral, tongue-in-cheek exercise in splatter aimed squarely at exploitation devotees. A Texas hospital is the epicentre of an outbreak of face-melting cannibalism unleashed by a mishap at the military base down the highway; our heroes are the requisite rag-tag band of survivors headed by Freddie Rodriguez and Rose McGowan, whose machine-gun prosthetic leg is the movie’s undeniable coup. Unlike Tarantino, who at least attempted to riff on genre, Rodriguez aims simply to replicate it with the volume turned up. On those terms, it’s not a bad job: aficionados will appreciate the po-faced wordplay and self-consciously gnarled-up aesthetic (missing reels, bad syncing, etc) as much as the fleshy centrepieces and gross-out grace notes. Others will struggle to find much appeal in the flimsy characters and repetitive carnage.

Author: Ben Walters

Time Out London Issue 1942: November 7-13 2007

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User reviews of this film

kerry jo said...

Posted on Jun 09 2008 23:15 I liked Death Proof better it was a film made by boys for boys. I can watch ew and goo at the best of times but i am glad i only paid £1.49 rental on this one. not their finest

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Miss T said...

Posted on Nov 16 2007 14:18 Crap!
not really a ladies film at all.
all the women flauntin their bodies around (esp fergi and the stripper) doesnt really make it a good first date film.
wont be buyin this one on dvd!
lucky it was orange wednesdays.

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Lady Boo said...

Posted on Nov 10 2007 17:27 I have to say I did enjoy this film, if you have seen the trailer then you know exactly what to expect. Wooden in parts and perhaps not as funny as it should be but well worth seeing for the audacious slapstick characters. Everybody needs brains...a must see for any zombie fan.

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