“Planet Terror” (2007) is a high-octane, grindhouse-style horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is part of the double feature Grindhouse (with Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof), designed to emulate the low-budget, exploitation films of the 1970s. Set in a small Texas town, the movie follows a group of survivors trying to fight off a deadly, zombie-like outbreak caused by a government experiment gone wrong.
The story begins when a biological weapon, known as “Project Terror,” is accidentally unleashed by a rogue military group. The weapon transforms people into grotesque, fast-moving zombie-like creatures. Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan), a go-go dancer, is one of the first to escape the chaos, but after losing her leg to the infected, she has it replaced with a machine gun as part of her transformation into a kick-ass hero.
As the infection spreads rapidly, Cherry teams up with several other survivors, including Dr. William Block (Josh Brolin), a local physician, his estranged wife, Dr. Dakota Block (Marley Shelton), and Wray (Freddy Rodriguez), a mysterious and tough man from Cherryโs past. Together, they fight their way through the town, trying to avoid the infected and a group of ruthless military personnel who are trying to contain the outbreak by any means necessary.
The film is filled with over-the-top action, gore, and campy humor, featuring numerous genre tropes such as car chases, bizarre characters, and exaggerated violence. Planet Terror is ultimately a celebration of exploitation cinema, embracing its gritty, low-budget roots and reveling in shock value, with outrageous visual effects, wild stunts, and an unapologetically ridiculous storyline.
The film concludes with the surviving characters attempting to escape the carnage, though the ending leaves room for more destruction and chaos. “Planet Terror” is a blend of horror, action, and dark comedy, presented in a deliberately rough, retro style that plays with expectations of the genre.