Rated: R for strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual content and nudity.
Runtime: 105 min
Studio: Troublemaker

“Machete don’t text!” is one of the lines you can’t miss, delivered in a way that only Danny Trejo, the star of the film, can pull off with a straight face. Trejo is Machete Cortez, a complete tough guy, and ex-federale, who is betrayed and left to fend for himself after witnessing the brutality against his wife. Later, on his own, Machete is again set up again, but rises from the ashes to fight another day.

Robert Rodriguez, I mean Quintan Tarrantino, I mean Robert Rodriguez, produced a totally campy film filled with an incredible cast, hot chicks, and lots of social commentary and violence.



Machete is really great entertainment, though it is completely gorey in sections. At one point , Machete, named after his weapon of choice, beheads a group of bad guys with one swift wave of the knife, heads went rolling and blood went squirting. Shamefully was ridiculous and funny, Machete the film, continuously catches the viewer off guard with different forms of gratuitous violence disguised as action comedy. If you can stomach the display, the film is worth its weight in action.

With the exception of Lindsay Lohan, who plays April Booth who acts like the infamous Lindsay Lohan, the women in the film have positions of authority. in addition to serving as sex symbols, the two are fighting for what they believe in on both sides of the immigration laws.

An officer of the law,Sartana, Jessica Alba, is a dead ringer for a young Phoebe Cates (The Anniversary Party) and shares an interest in Machete’s activities. Posing as a food truck owner, Michelle Rodriguez is LUZ the only person who seems to connected to “SHE”, a freedom fighter for the immigrants who try to cross the Mexican border.

Of course when folks cross that border into the United States, brown-skinned will surely be welcomed into the country by Senator McLaughlin, and his band of outlaw vigilantes. The bigotted McLaughlin will aim and fire a high powered rifle first,with the intent of never having to ask questions later.

Many of the scenes remind me of Blaxploitation films of the early 70’s, and some of the racier scenes have that “Bone chica Bow Wow” music and feel, but nothing really happens.

With all of the guns blasting, and machete’s waving, the violence in Machete is constant, but laughable. I know this is so wrong to say, but when one character gets shot in the eye the film doesn’t show a gross hanging eye, so in that way we are spared the visual.

Note: The author rented this DVD.