Rose McGowan- Planet Terror (2007)

Grindhouse (Rodriguez and Tarantino, 2007) is one of my favorite movie theatre experiences ever. Planet Terror (Rodriguez) is my favorite of the two portions, and this is mainly due to Rose McGowan's performance as Cherry Darling.

It is this go-go dancer turned gun-legged warrior that is the driving force behind the film. While every minor role is performed incredibly well, McGowan's Cherry steals the show as she goes head-to-head with the zombie mutants that are devouring the town. Cherry may be a go-go dancer, but she is an incredibly strong woman, willing to put her life at risk to end the zombie apocalypse.

McGowan, famous for her role in Scream (Craven, 1996) and Charmed has made a career out of roles within the genre. In Planet Terror, she pays tribute to the women of the infamous grindhouse films of the 70's. By combining the horror elements with the trashy female exploitation films, the film is able to provide an incredibly entertaining experience for the viewer.

Not only is McGowan the star of the Planet Terror portion of Grindhouse, she also plays the first victim of Stuntman Mike in the Death Proof (Tarantino) portion. In both roles, McGowan gives it her all and proves that women in these films can be strong and not be controlled by the men in their lives.

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