Genre: Sci-fi, ‘zombie’ survival horror film. Premise: A bioweapon that turns people into half-living, half-dead masses of necrotic, gangrenous flesh is released upon a small Texan town by a bunch of f*****d up black-ops soldiers.  As the town quickly degenerates into stomach churning madness, a group of individuals yet to be infected fight to get out of the town alive and in one piece. Why I watched it: The film was originally part of a ‘double feature’ released last year, a Grind House double feature, put together by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.  The film was paired with Deathproof, which I watched first, and this had a trailer before the main feature.  Being a bit of a zombie film enthusiast I had to watch it. Comparison to other films: There was definite inspiration from Jackson’s Braindead in terms of the gooeyness factor, and the intelligence levels of some of the infected seem to be inspired by the undead of Reanimator.  I don’t want to say the town being overrun like it is, is anything quite like what happens in Romero’s Dead films, and I am more inclined to compare the small town setting of Planet Terror to the events of Romero’s The Crazies and there are certainly similarities between the two and the military presence.

The less said of the adaptations of a certain game series, though, the better…

Watching it: The film was a delightful piece of nonsense and the backgrounds to some of the characters as zany as can be expected from the minds of Rodriguez and Tarantino.  Speaking of Tarantino, his role in the film again showcases his penchant to playing disturbed characters (I was greatly reminded of his role in From Dusk Till Dawn).

In general I liked the choice of actors for the characters.  Seeing Freddie Rodriguez in this film was quite a surprise, as my experience of his acting, before now, had not gone beyond the über-seriousness of Six Feet Under.  He was great as the man with a mysterious past, who becomes just the anti-hero all the other characters need.

And Rose McGowan’s character’s bodily enhancements lead to some of the most impressive, physics defying action shots in the film that are seriously underused.  I was slightly disappointed that the enhancement didn’t come sooner.

There’s also a surprise appearance by Bruce Willis and several other veterans of Tarantino and Rodriguez films.

I was grossed out at times, but seeing as how this is an 18-rated film I wouldn’t expect otherwise when taking the genre also into account.  There was a good cringe factor and the references between this film and Deathproof were pretty funky too.

Overall: The DVD has been going cheap of late, so definitely a good one to get in for a Friday night.  Just be careful when you’re munching down on the popcorn.  Umm, salty cerebral goodness…