300 Words on "Death Proof" (2007)

Death Proof is a film which constantly subverted expectations. It’s a film, like Psycho, comprised of two distinct halves with two distinct casts of characters. Just when you think that you have foreseen where the plot is going to go, the movie throws you for a loop. And, like Psycho, Death Proof is ostensibly a horror movie. However, I’m not sure if I can rightfully say that it is all that scary. Even the climatic car chase wasn’t what I was expecting, feeling less like a great, kinetic set-piece and more like a game of tag…in cars…and where the loser dies.

Though director Quentin Tarantino has, himself, admitted that Death Proof is the weakest film in his filmography, it is not without its positive points. Death Proof’s very existence is worth applauding. It was created as the second-half of a double-bill with director Robert Rodriguez for their homage epic, Grindhouse, which saw their films screened back to back and accompanied by original trailers for fake coming attractions directed by the likes of Eli Roth and Edgar Wright. The lengths which Tarantino went to in order to give his film that authentic grindhouse look – right down to scratching the film negative itself – is nothing short of a masterly feat of style over substance.

As one expects of any Tarantino film, though, the dialogue and characters are excellent, even if this is, undoubtedly, his weakest screenplay. A viewer with a morbid sense of humor and tongue planted firmly in cheek shall have lots to chuckle at. And that car chase, despite its unconventional nature, is exciting, and Tarantino handles the action very well.

To some, Death Proof is the low point of Tarantino’s career. To others, it is an underrated gem. Either way, Death Proof promises its viewer one wild ride in the fast lane.

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For those who follow this blog and recall my ranking of the films of Quentin Tarantino (link here), I have included my revised list below. Though Death Proof doesn’t shake up the list any, for the sake of completion, I thought I would include it. As I consider none of Tarantino’s films bad per se, I have ordered the list from Best to Least Best:

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Inglorious Basterds (2009)

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Django Unchained (2012)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Jackie Brown (1997)

Kill Bill (2003, 2004)

Death Proof (2007)