Death Proof (2007)
Action, Adventure, Thriller |
Death Proof is a American exploitation thriller film written, directed and shot by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Kurt Russell as a stuntman who murders young women in staged car accidents using his “death-proof” stunt car. It co-stars Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, with stuntwoman Zoë Bell as herself. The film pays homage to the slasher, exploitation and muscle car films of the 1970s.
Death Proof was released theatrically in the United States as part of a double feature with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror under the collective title Grindhouse, to recreate the experience of viewing exploitation film double features in a “grindhouse” theater. The films were released separately outside the United States and on DVD, with Death Proof going on sale in the U.S. on September 18, 2007. The film was in the main competition for the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Three friends, Arlene, Shanna and radio DJ “Jungle” Julia Lucai, drive down Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, on their way to celebrate Julia’s birthday. In a bar, Julia reveals that she made a radio announcement offering a free lap dance from Arlene in return for addressing her as “Butterfly,” buying her a drink, and reciting a segment of the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Aging Hollywood stunt double Mike McKay trails the women to a bar and claims the lap dance. Arlene is suspicious, having seen Mike’s car earlier that day, but he convinces her to give him the lap dance.
The women prepare to depart with Lanna, another friend. Pam, Julia’s old classmate, accepts Mike’s offer of a ride home. Mike takes Pam to his Hollywood stunt car rigged with a roll cage and tells her the car is “death proof,” but only for the driver. He speeds and slams on the brakes, smashing Pam’s skull on the dashboard, killing her.
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms
Cast:
| Kurt Russell | … | Stuntman Mike |
| Zoë Bell | … | Zoë Bell |
| Rosario Dawson | … | Abernathy |
| Vanessa Ferlito | … | Arlene |
| Sydney Tamiia Poitier | … | Jungle Julia (as Sydney Poitier) |
| Tracie Thoms | … | Kim |
| Rose McGowan | … | Pam |
| Jordan Ladd | … | Shanna |
| Mary Elizabeth Winstead | … | Lee |
| Quentin Tarantino | … | Warren |
| Marcy Harriell | … | Marcy |
| Eli Roth | … | Dov |
| Omar Doom | … | Nate |
| Michael Bacall | … | Omar |
| Monica Staggs | … | Lanna Frank |
| Jonathan Loughran | … | Jasper |
| Marta Mendoza | … | Punky Bruiser |
| Tim Murphy | … | Tim the Bartender |
| Melissa Arcaro | … | Venus Envy |
| Michael Parks | … | Earl McGraw |
| James Parks | … | Edgar McGraw |
| Marley Shelton | … | Dr. Dakota Block – McGraw |
| Nicky Katt | … | Counter Guy |
| Electra Avellan | … | Babysitter Twin #1 (as Electra Avellán) |
| Elise Avellan | … | Babysitter Twin #2 (as Elise Avellán) |
| Helen Kim | … | Peg |
| Tina Rodriguez | … | Juana |
| Eurlyne Epper | … | Lanna Frank Friend #1 |
| Jamie L. Dunno | … | Lanna Frank Friend #2 |
| Manuel Cantu | … | Bar Patron (uncredited) |
| Chris King | … | Extra (uncredited) |
| April March | … | April March (uncredited) |
| Darryl K. Phipps | … | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) |
| Julitta Pourciau | … | Business Class Passenger (uncredited) |
| Amanda Rivas | … | Nurse (uncredited) |
| Kelley Robins | … | Laquanda (uncredited) |
| Violet Saenz-Arocha | … | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) |
| Gary Teague | … | Businessman (uncredited) |
| Angela Ware | … | Waitress at Guero’s (uncredited) |
| Steven A. Webb | … | College Player-Barroom (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia