Machete
2010 · Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Ethan Maniquis
Original language: English
- action
- comedy
- thriller
The story
After being set-up and betrayed by the man who hired him to assassinate a Texas Senator, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.
What it’s like
Gritty, sun-scorched grindhouse energy: saturated color, grainy textures, and the dusty oranges and bruised teals of a Texas border town under harsh midday sun. Robert Rodriguez shoots with exaggerated pulp framing, quick zooms, and blood that sprays bright red against bleached concrete, while sudden bursts of thudding guitar and squealing synth punch through the rattle of gunfire. The vibe is loud, lurid, and tongue-in-cheek, the kind of ride that plays like a fever dream of 1970s exploitation cinema with a modern wink. Pacing is relentless, built on set-piece escalation, with brief quieter beats of loss and regret between eruptions of violence. The violence is frequent, graphic, and cartoonishly excessive, with gore, dismemberment, and gunplay that is more over-the-top than disturbing. There are some sexual situations and crude humor, and the immigration and politics backdrop is handled with broad satire. Best for viewers who want a raucous, self-aware action film for a late-night watch with friends, not anything gentle or subtle.
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