I'm talking about PLANET TERROR which
was the opening half of the surprise bomb GRINDHOUSE which graced
theaters earlier this year. I really never understood why GRINDHOUSE
ended up being the box office disappointment of the year, I heard all
the excuses, bad timing on the release, to long, fans didn't get it.
Bullshit, it failed because we let it fails. Horror fans once again
turned on one of its own and PLANET TERROR and it's partner in crime
DEATH PROOF went the way of many good R rated horror films in recent
memory and faded into obscurity.
Well, now is our chance to rectify
that. Today PLANET TERROR hits DVD and the film is even better as a
stand alone product. The film gets the royal treatment with a double
disc release that is just crammed full of special features and extra
goodies.
The film itself is even better as a
stand alone film. I think the addition of DEATH PROOF on the bill
during its run at the theater was a hindrance and the project really
shines as the groundbreaking film it is in this DVD release.
The story is actually pretty simple.
Not that it really matters much as the over the top violence and gore
is what this film is all about. Much like FROM DUSK TILL DAWN before
it PROJECT TERROR is all about excess but done with a “wink and
nod” flair that makes it nothing short of brilliant. Anyway, the
story revolves around a stripper, a doctor and his wife and a small
town wrapped up in an outbreak caused by a gas leak that turns those
exposed to it into crazed, melting, puss filled “infected” that
rip apart and eat any human it their path. As you can guess that
kind of setup leads to all kinds of goo filled scenes each one more
over the top and nastier then the last.
At one point our heroine stripper
portrayed by Rose McGowen who is so freakin hot in this film that it
is almost impossible to watch it with your wife or significant other
in the room because all you want to do is gawk and drool as she
wiggles that oh so fine ass all over the screen, looses a leg and is
fitted with a machine gun in its place. It's awesome and strange and
original.
The film also boasts amazing
performances by Bruce Willis, Freddy Rodriguez, Marley Shelton, Josh
Brolin and Michael Biehn. Great cameos as well by the likes of Tom
Savini, Michael Parks, Fergie and Quentin Tarantino. Shit, I almost
forgot Jeff Fahey. He is awesome in this one as well.
The disc gets right down to business
for as soon as you put it in it the player it gets right into the
faux trailer for MACHETE the non existent Danny Trejo revenge flick
that has garnered enough attention that it looks like it might
actually get made. A great trailer done in that early 70's style
that really sets the mood for the feature presentation to come.
As far as special feature go, this one
couldn't be much fuller The only thing missing is more of the faux
trailers that graced the original theatrical run but you really
hardly notice as the second disc is just chock full of behind the
scenes goodness.
Here's the complete listing of what
you'll find:
Special Features
Feature
Length Audio Commentary By Writer/Director Robert Rodriguez
Audience
Screening Track
10
Minute Film School
Sickos,
Bullets And Explosions: The Stunts Of Planet
Terror
The
Badass Babes Of Planet
Terror
Casting
Robert Rodriguez’s Son Rebel
The
Guys Of Planet
Terror
The
Friend, The Doctor And The Real Estate Agent
International Poster Gallery
and International Trailer
I can't stress enough that this is THE
genre film of the year in this horror fans humble opinion so get up
off your lazy butt and get out there and pick this one up.
You'll be so glad you did and then
you'll kick yourself in the ass for not supporting it when it was out
in theaters.
PLANET TERROR is available everywhere
today.
Here is the official synopsis from the
studio:
Synopsis
Married doctors William and Dakota
Block (Brolin and Shelton) find their graveyard shift inundated with
townspeople ravaged by gangrenous sores and a suspiciously vacant
look in their eyes. Among the wounded is Cherry (Rose McGowan),
a go-go dancer whose leg was ripped from her body during a roadside
attack. Wray
(Freddy Rodriguez), her former significant
other, is at her side and watching her back. Cherry may be
down, but she hasn’t danced her last number. As the invalids
quickly become enraged aggressors, Cherry and Wray lead a team of
accidental warriors into the night, hurtling towards a destiny that
will leave millions infected, countless dead, and a lucky few
struggling to find the last safe corner of PLANET
TERROR.