In 2007, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino tried to resurrect the Grindhouse image by releasing two films that could be viewed one right after the other with Grindhouse, the two films; Planet Terror and Death Proof, where fun films but failed to perform at the box office. In-between films, however were mock trailers for films. One of those mock trailers got so much attention that fans demanded it be made into a film. In September of 2010, that became a reality when Machete was released in theaters and went on to make almost triple its budget at the box office.
Machete (Danny Trejo) is an ex-Federale who watched the drug kingpin, Torrez (Steven Seagal), kill his wife and daughter and almost killed Machete, himself. Three years later, Machete is an illegal alien who just has crossed the border into the United States. While looking for work, he is hired by a Michael Booth (Jeff Fahey), a local businessman who wants local state Senator John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) killed because of his radical ways and anti-immigration stance. Booth agrees to pay Machete a large sum of money, and Machete agrees to do it after being threatened by Booth and his gang. However, Machete is set up to take the fall, after Booth’s men shoot the Senator in the leg, and try to pin it on Machete. Machete learns that it’s all a conspiracy to get the Senator elected so an electric fence will be put up along the Texas border. However, the campaign funding is coming from Machete’s rival, Torrez, who has made a deal with Senator McLaughlin. Michael Booth and a local group of nuts that like to kill immigrants for fun, headed by Von Jackson (Don Johnson), so that together they can control the drug trade in the United States. With the help of Luz (Michelle Rodriguez) and her network and underground organization to help immigrants, a rookie federal agent (Jessica Alba) and some local residents; Machete will hunt the men down who framed him one by one, and restore honor and goodness to both Mexico and the United States.
Machete is a film that I can’t even begin to describe. It is a lot of fun to watch. There is a lot of blood and violence, and the story is actually good, however, in terms of its being a serious film? Throw all thoughts of its being remotely serious out the window. The film is silly in a good way that is a great over-the-top Grindhouse film that features things that are not humanly possible. Swinging out a window on a man’s intestines and being shot in the eye and returning to normal hours later, or having sex and getting drunk with your enemy’s wife and daughter at the same time. Stuff like that does not happen. Yet it does in this film. So, if you think this is going to be one of those action films that could be a true case of vigilantism, you’re dead wrong.
The Blu-ray disc does not contain a lot of features but does have an Audience Reaction Soundtrack and Exclusive deleted scenes. The Blu-ray disc also has the BD-Live feature where you can go online and access extra content. The disc also comes with a digital copy that is pocket BLU compatible.
Overall Machete is a film that is full of brainless fun. It has a huge cast of famous faces and the lead role was made for Danny Trejo. The end of the film says that Machete will return in two more films. I heard that this might even happen as Director Robert Rodriguez does have a script ready to go. Machete is a fun film, that’s really all it is. It does have this whole anti/pro emigration thing going on, however it pokes fun at both points of views about the issue. Folks, don’t go into this one expecting a serious film, this is a tongue and cheek kind of film, which is just a lot of mindless fun featuring guns, blood, guts, nude women and gore. Have fun with it.
– Horror Bob
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- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
