Machete

Machete (Trejo) is not a man you should cross. Disillusioned by the death of his family, Machete finds himself contracted to murder an influential anti-immigration politician (De Niro). However, as he stands ready to take the shot, events turn against him. Betrayed by those he believed he could trust and given an opportunity to avenge himself upon those who tore his life apart, there is little which can stand in the way of Machete’s quest for blood. This time, they messed with the wrong Mexican.

Those familiar with the Tarantino/Rodriquez collaboration Grindhouse will already be acquainted in part with Machete. The fake trailer which preceded the double-feature, and which was initially believed by many to be a real film trailer, soon proved too popular a concept to pass up. While several scenes from the trailer required reshooting, many filtered through into the 2010 theatrical release four years after they were originally shot.

This film is for all those who adored the 2007 exploitation masterpiece. Adopting the same aesthetic as the old grindhouse style of productions, Machete makes no claims about being serious. It is brutal, bloody and in keeping with the tone set by the fake trailer which gave it life. Having been a long time coming, the wait for this film has undoubtedly been worth it. The finished product unites an all-star cast taking on roles you would be pressed to find them having played before. Proving both a critical and commercial success, Machete is likely to be the first theatrical release to have followed such a unique path from concept to completion. Limbs will fly, blood will spill, and Danny Trejo will fly through the air on a motorcycle armed with a Gatling gun. This is unmistakably a film from the Robert Rodriquez who brought us such cult hits as Planet Terror and From Dusk Til Dawn.

David Burroughs