Planet Terror (2007)

Review by CJ

Director:
Robert Rodriguez

Starring:
Rose McGowan, Josh Brolin, Freddy Rodriguez, Michael Biehn, Marley Shelton, Bruce Willis

Other notable appearances:
Fergie, Quentin Tarantino, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin

Running time:
105 minutes

Watch this if you liked:
Deathproof, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Toxic Avenger, Escape From New York

When a biochemical weapon is accidentally released, it starts to turn nearby residents into homicidal, mutated creatures. It is up to a small group of survivors to try to stop the entire planet from becoming Planet Terror.

I thoroughly enjoyed the “drive-in double feature from the 60s and 70s” vibe of Planet Terror. Before Planet Terror commences, the vibe is set with the second half of the Grindhouse double feature beginning as a trailer for Machete. Once the trailer is over, we are told that the feature is commencing and, boy, does it ever.

The film has a scratchy effect throughout that is genius in its simplicity. It gives the film a classic monster movie feel that creates a wonderful atmosphere to accompany the gruesome special effects, hilariously cheesy dialogue and the simple yet effective plot.

Speaking of gruesome special effects, there were several moments throughout Planet Terror that made me cringe. I watch lots of horror films yet some of the things that happen in Planet Terror are quite … squicky.

Planet Terror has a stellar cast who all do a fantastic job of hamming it up for the film. There is a marked difference between genuinely bad acting and masterfully overacting just enough to suit a film like Planet Terror. The entire cast have achieved the latter.

From the scratched film effect throughout Planet Terror to the cringeworthy gross-out moments and the cheesy dialogue, this film is greatly suited to b-movie, classic monster movie and Tarantino fans.

Rating:

“I don’t suppose anyone else here is a bio-chemical engineer?”