Reviewed by Kate Rodger
Robert Rodriguez has been threatening to turn Danny Trejo into Machete for a long time. He has finally delivers on his promise, and I suspect the fans will be well pleased he did.
As you might expect, with a name like Machete, our leading man is good with a knife. And with an R18 rating slapped on it, you can also expect an epic frequency of knife and machete use, along with a few gunfights, a ritual crucifixion, and some creative use of an intestine.
This is grindhouse, and you get what you pay for.
Surprisingly, given my well-documented stomach for knife-violence (or lack thereof!), I found the silly pop-style splatter bloodshed of this okay. It was more comedy than anything else.
Some nice moments of cinema homage also went down well with me.
Rodriguez can certainly pull a cast, and this is the best thing Robert De Niro has done since he signed up for the continuing mediocre ghastliness of the Fockers.
Three stars.
Machete
:: Director: Robert Rodriguez
:: Starring: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal, Lindsay Lohan, Cheech Marin, Jeff Fahey, Don Johnson
:: Running Time: 106 mins
:: Rating: R18 - Contains Graphic Violence
:: Release Date: November 25, 2010
:: Trailer: Watch here
