Chapter 179: The Thrill of Slaughter "Go, my goddess!"

After Jane-Earl modified an M4 assault rifle, Ray-Earl attached it to Cheri's leg. The former goddess transformed into a superhero embodying beauty, sexiness, and slaughter at that moment.

Cheri became incredibly cool instantly. A dancer who had lost her leg, now equipped with an M4 assault rifle prosthetic by her boyfriend, fought zombies in a life-and-death struggle.

The audience in the cinema was plunged into a unique frenzy. This was a cool, dazzling, and awesome slaughter feast!

In the last row, Todd McCarthy from "Hollywood Reporter" nodded slightly. This quirky film was as interesting as advertised.

He was intrigued after "Planet Terror" received praise from British counterparts at the Cannes Film Festival.

On the screen, after Cheri's prosthetic was upgraded to a machine gun, she became unstoppable, killing everyone in sight, including a remarkable sequence where she combined stripping moves with killing, dragging her machine gun in a sprint, jumping, firing from the air, and shooting while landing.

B-movie enthusiasts were ecstatic to the point of tears!

Then, zombie heads flew into the air, and a helicopter's rotor blades executed a terrifying massacre, spraying limbs and blood everywhere.

This climax pushed the film's atmosphere to its peak!

The cinema erupted in noise, as if this was the only way for B-movie lovers to express their exhilaration.

The film was straightforward in its purpose: to entertain through extensive blood splatter, dismemberment, mutant zombies, and gun-toting beauties, offering a taste of the thrill of killing.

Brooke-Stern, unlike his colleague Miller-Davis, was a true B-movie enthusiast, feeling almost soulfully exhilarated at this moment.

This film had too many elements that excited fans!

Indeed, what zombie film doesn't feature a beautiful woman? In such films, the contrast between beauty and ugliness adds drama and appeal.

But "Planet Terror" featured an unusual beauty: a deadly automatic rifle for a leg, a slender figure, effortlessly killing zombies and special forces without breaking a sweat. If a conventional author were to write a book on "sex and violence," the lead actress's promotional photo would be perfect for the cover.

She started as a weak woman, with the suggestive name "Cherry.Darling," and evolved into an invincible goddess.

The plot of such genre films is usually formulaic, but "Planet Terror" often deviated from the norm, like when the bio-weapon expert confidently leads a mission to seize an airplane, only to be shot down instantly... Such moments added humor and surprises.

Of course, some people, only interested in the lead actress's physique or explicit scenes, those with a disdain for violence, not fans of metal music or zombie films, or those who dislike B-movies, would find "Planet Terror" unsuitable.

Compared to other moviegoers still reveling in the film's climax, Todd McCarthy was very calm. As a professional critic for a prestigious outlet like "Hollywood Reporter," he had his judgments. Having just watched the film, he was in the perfect position to write a thorough review.

Leaving the Chief Stone Cinema, McCarthy returned to his nearby studio, immediately picking up pen and paper upon reaching his office.

Despite the prevalence of computers and typewriters, he preferred this traditional method for drafting articles.

Sitting at his desk, after some thought, he wrote the first line: "Turning a complex, fascinating story into plain water is the director's mediocrity; making a simple story engaging, funny, and memorable is the director's success. In this regard, "Planet Terror" under Murphy-Stanton's direction is a success!"

He paused, took a sip of water, and continued writing.

"I believe the buzz from Cannes is not entirely accurate; this film's script is among the best in zombie cinema."

"The director set a suspenseful tone right from the military base scene, then spent the first third establishing characters, focusing on humans rather than zombies. The middle third transitions to zombie-human conflict, usually the most clichéd and crucial segment of zombie films. However, Murphy-Stanton handled it swiftly and intensely."

"Not only does this part feature explicit scenes, but the director also smartly cuts pacing-slowing segments, making the zombie action brisk and satisfying."

"The final third shifts focus back to humans, especially with the military base scene that echoes the beginning and raises stakes, culminating with the machine-gun-legged beauty's transformation and rampage, leading to the climax!"

"While about zombies, the film's parody mainly lies in the first two segments, not focusing on traditional zombie horror but climaxing without resorting to gory zombie slaughter for spectacle."

"Murphy-Stanton's approach to the film, treating it more like a disaster movie, focuses on the main characters' struggle against evil forces, making their escape the highlight."

"Moreover, the special effects surpass B-movie standards, nearly reaching near-A-level production quality, shocking those expecting a typical B-movie while smartly narrating the story in a B-movie style, avoiding clichéd heroism and focusing on the most thrilling scenes and characters, highlighting the film's excellence and uniqueness."

After finishing, McCarthy reviewed his work, called his assistant, and handed over the article, "Send this to 'Hollywood Reporter's editorial team for tomorrow's column."

His assistant glanced at the unfamiliar movie title, puzzled why such a renowned critic would feature a lesser-known film in his column. She went online to research "Planet Terror," produced and distributed by Miramax, recalling a recent party hosted by the Weinstein brothers where her boss attended.

During award season, her boss seemed to favor Miramax, recalling letters mentioning "Chicago."

These matters didn't concern her much. Standing up, she walked to the fax machine, ready to send the article to "Hollywood Reporter's" editorial department.

Perhaps due to "Saw's" success or Miramax's effective promotion, many critics noticed "Planet Terror," a typical B-movie, filling various print media editorial offices by Friday afternoon.

Compared to the delayed publication of print media, the internet's immediacy and timeliness stood out.

After watching the movie and strolling Hollywood Boulevard with Claire until sunset, Daisy returned home.

Entering, she kicked off her high heels, tossed her bag on the sofa, and rushed to her computer, eager to see the online reaction to the eccentric director's latest work.

As an early follower of Murphy-Stanton on IMDb, Daisy frequently commented, becoming one of the discussion group's leaders for his section.

She often checked in, especially with a new film release, not forgetting this time.

Opening IMDb, she searched for Murphy-Stanton's section, resting her chin on her hand while staring at his photo, finding him as handsome and cool as ever, endlessly fascinating...

The main reason for her fascination was the twisted heart hidden beneath the cool exterior, the most attractive aspect to her.

Glancing at the comment section, she noticed little change, with Murphy-Stanton's attention still low compared to famous directors.

However, "Planet Terror" now appeared in his filmography.

Opening "Planet Terror," Daisy scrolled down to the comments, immediately irritated by two top negative reviews.

"Disgusting to see such a film!"

"What a mess of a movie, nothing but disgusting exaggeration!"

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