10 Underrated Films By Amazing Directors

Released as part of the Grindhouse double-bill with friend Robert Rodríguez, it’s not too hard to see why Death Proof has flown under the radar for so long. While Rodríguez’s Planet Terror was the other movie playing alongside it, Death Proof eventually was given its own release.

Starring Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike, Death Proof follows the story of a crazed stuntman who kills unsuspecting groups of women in his death-proof (get it?) stunt car. The film is seen as a homage to the classic exploitation, slasher and car-based films of the ’70s, basically, think Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, Halloween and Vanishing Point all rolled into one, with a hint of Jackie Brown.

The first half of the film is shown with missing film cells, jump-cuts and even scratched film to replicate the classic look of the films of the time, although the look is somewhat abandoned in the second half of the film, which is a shame, as the jumpy, scratched look from the first half had a certain charm to it that really pulled you in.

While Death Proof may not be as engaging as other Tarantino films, the car chase at the end is probably one of the greatest car chases ever put to film…seriously! With a chase that carries over deserted country roads, highways and even across an interstate, it’s truly breathtaking to behold.

While the film isn’t as well-known or even as well-liked as say...Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained or Kill Bill, Death Proof is still a solid entry into the infamous director’s impressive filmography.