DEATH PROOF

"Now that was fun"

Overly confident and psychotic, the scared face of Stuntman Mike (Russell) stalks the most beautiful in Texas with deadly consequences. The streets of Austin, Texas are his playground and murder is on his mind because his considers himself death proof and the car he drives is his weapon. When he moves onto his next obsession, Stuntman Mike's new targets are not your typical girls because Kim (Thoms), Zoë (Bell) and Abernathy (Dawson) can take care of themselves and will not go down without a fight.

After Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's 'Grindhouse' failed as a concept at the US box office, it was decided that the two films needed to parted and re-released extended and uncut but can 'Death Proof' work on its own?

When it comes to describing the career of Quentin Tarantino as a writer and director the words failure have never been mentioned. With critical praised heaped on 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Pulp Fiction', 'Jackie Brown' and 'Kill Bill 1 & 2' and his collaborations with friend and writing/directorial partner Robert Rodriguez on 'From Dusk till Dawn' and 'Sin City', it must have been very hard for the pair of them to have their homage to the 70s exploitation films and B-Movies, 'Grindhouse', fail at the US box office. With international releases pulled and pressure from the studio, it was decided that the double feature of 'Planet Terror' and 'Death Proof' be split up and released unrated and extended, with Tarantino's homage to the great car chase stunt movies of 60s and 70s hitting international cinemas and DVD first.

The story of a murderous, disgruntled former stuntman who turns to murder to ease his adrenaline cravings is stooped in B-Movie and exploitation nostalgia. With beautiful girls, outrageous stunts and some of the best car sequences seen on film in a very long time and when you mix in the trademark Tarantino dialogue you have a movie that delight fans and prove again that he is one of the most ingenious filmmakers working today. While some viewers might not get why a filmmaker of Tarantino quality would want to pay homage to a time and a movie style that only really appeals to hardcore film fans but this is a man who clearly adores these types of movies and 'Death Proof' personifies this.

The main difference between 'Death Proof' and the original films that influenced it is the cast. As usual Quentin Tarantino attracts some of the finest up and coming talent working in film today and also brings out the best in a cult actor who hasn't had a hit in a while. In any exploitation flick you have to have some sexy woman and 'Death Proof' has them in abundance. Delivering the trademark Tarantino dialogue while looking amazing, the writer/director gets the best out of some of the most beautiful starlets working in Hollywood today. Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan and Sydney Poitier for the first posse of babes, as they hang around in the local bar with their boyfriends and a mysterious stranger at the bar. Vanessa Ferlito makes the biggest impression when she decides to complete a dare that the equally beautiful Sydney Poitier sets her on her character Jungle Julia's radio show. The second set of babes is equally as good as sassy. Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and the amazing stuntwoman turned actress Zoë Bell make an equally impressive impact and take part in one hell of a car chase.

It is Kurt Russell who gets the most out of the Quentin Tarantino however. With his last big hit been 'Stargate' back in 1994, a cavalcade average supporting roles and even the return to Snake Plissken failing to set Hollywood alight, a call from Tarantino must have felt like a God send. As Stuntman Mike he really gets to have a lot of fun and play a villain with great gusto. A hero throughout the 80s and early 90s, this movie gives him the chance to regain his cult status and have his fans cheering once again.

'Death Proof' is a genuinely fun movie that will appeal to Tarantino fans, B-Movie, exploitation films and car chases alike. While the sudden ending may disappoint some and the repeating female story demographic could also be annoying, this is a movie influenced heavily by the Grindhouse films of the 70s and 80s and this is why it succeeds. Put the peddle to the floor and enjoy this full version of the movie that Tarantino really had fun making.