It's clear that Quentin Tarantino has an unending appetite for violent imagery, as demonstrated in Death Proof. This second part of Rodriguez and Tarantino’s tribute to the “Grindhouse” exploitation film style feels saturated with gasoline. The movie focuses on loud, chaotic car crashes reminiscent of muscle car movies from the 1970s. However, it's more than just a look at "death-proof" cars, typically driven by stunt performers. Instead, this is a Tarantino project, and if you’re familiar with his work, expect lengthy dialogue sequences from his script, realistic scenes of violence, and a lot of focus on feet. The basic premise involves a stunt driver targeting young women. It's essentially the story of one cynical stunt double who drives recklessly across America, crashing into women at incredibly high speeds. This is Tarantino’s take on the slasher film format. Rather than a machete or other sharp weapon, the danger comes from tires hitting faces and bodies flying through windshields. He cleverly shows all aspects of a car, using each part as either a tool or a constraint for the characters. Whether it's hanging onto the hood at top speed or being trapped inside a roll cage, the vehicles are constantly central to Tarantino’s screenplay. However, like his other films, the script suffers from excessively long conversations that lessen the excitement. For instance, Abernathy and her friends stop to talk about Bell’s desire to test-drive a Dodge Challenger. While the extended shot, with Tarantino circling the table beautifully for ten minutes, was impressive directing, it took away from the intense car crash that had just happened. This was partly due to the decision to switch characters midway through the film. The first group of women weren't exactly escaping their accident in a graceful way. But this narrative shift, though disruptive, served a purpose by challenging what viewers might expect. Initially, it seems like “Stuntman Mike” is about to repeat the same thrilling "accident" again. But Tarantino anticipated that expectation and deliberately flipped the structure on its head. The hunter becomes the hunted, and it worked wonderfully! Watching real stuntwoman Bell participate in a dangerous game on the Challenger while Russell repeatedly rams his car into theirs is captivating. Tarantino moves the camera across the scenery, presenting one of the most exhilarating car chases in some time. It's fun, lively, and contributes to air pollution. And finishing with a freeze frame? That’s inspired. Death Proof brings back a forgotten film genre through Tarantino’s playful energy. The movie rarely strayed from its course, moving excitedly around tight corners, even though it includes limited violence and extended conversations. Ultimately, Death Proof is very much a Tarantino creation.

Source on TMDB