Death Proof

by Quentin Tarantino

Death Proof is the latest masterpiece by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Quentin Tarantino, starring Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson, Zoe Bell, and Kurt Russell. With its pulse-pounding action, electric dialogue, and hardcore thrills, Death Proof recharges the exploitation film genre and drives it straight into the 21st century.

Jungle Julia is the hottest DJ in Austin. Ready for a night out, Jungle Julia and her girls turn heads all over Austin until they settle at Huck's, the coolest dive in town. There they meet Stuntman Mike, an aging rebel with a badass muscle car, a silver jacket, and a long scar on his face. The girls drink and dance the night away as Mike sits at the bar and watches. But Stuntman Mike is no innocent drifter. He has a secret weapon--and it's parked outside.

Genres: Film, Fiction, Plays, American

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2007

About the author

Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an Academy Award- and Palme d'Or-winning American film director, screenwriter and actor. He rose to fame in the early 1990s as an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and stylized violence. His films include Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (Vol. 1 2003, Vol. 2 2004), Death Proof (2007), and Inglourious Basterds (2009).

Reviews

[Renee Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the further look into one of my favorite movies of all time. Quentin Tarantino is quite the imaginary, and I liked seeing the altered/renewed/deleted sections of the movie written. I can't lie either - it looks rather nice on my shelf next to my Stuntman Mike vinyl statue. Way to go, Quentin, you are a legend.

[Frank Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don’t understand how Kill Bill is considered a feminist story and Death Proof isn’t. Not only the action that evolves around strong, independent female characters, but the clear metaphor of the sexism with the Death Proof muscle car, untouchable until it isn’t.

[adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hey Pam! Remember when I said this car was death proof? Well that wasn’t a lie. This car is a hundred percent death proof. Only to get the benefit of it honey. . . you reeaally need to be sitting in my seat.”

[An · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent example of an action script with short vivid description that gives you a real sense of how the film will look.

Great badass chicks as the heroes.

[Jeffrey Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia is a grating character; actually, all of the first group are grating. The second group of girls are pleasant enough however and stuntman Mike is a solid character.

[Paul Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tarantino's script to maybe his most poorly reviewed film (not counting Four Rooms, and still pretty favorably reviewed all things considered), isn't as quick or cleverly structured or entertaining as his other immensely readable screenplays, but it's still a lot of fun. He writes in a few scenes that got the chop from the film (some of which can be seen in the deleted scenes special feature on the disk or included in the director's cut of the film. Perhaps the strangest thing about this script is that he goes into so little detail for the final car chase. Even chunks of dialogue spoken by the three lead women aren't there, and it certainly doesn't detail how long and intense the car chase actually is. Makes me wonder how much of that came about through the storyboard process and how much of it was born during rehearsals, or if he just had it in his head all along but didn't want to include it all in the script to keep it a tight, quick read.

[Jim Kirwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know if screenplays count for this goodreads stuff but it popped up when I searched it so and I spent the time reading it so I'm going to count it to feel good about myself. This was excellent. Unlike some of the other Tarantino screenplays, this one seemed to be shot exactly as it was. I don't think there were any deleted scenes or big changes that happened in the actual film. Hell of a screenplay for a hell of a film.

[Cameron Fast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible dialogue all around. This goes to show the genius of Tarantino and his skill of creating something out of nothing. While it is his most controversial movie, the screenplay is nothing short of incredible and makes you appreciate beautiful written conversation within the plot.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

two times the same story more or less. but its qt you know...:-)

[Samiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* tbh I liked the action sequences, but the small talk chit-chat parts made me tired

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when I first saw Death Proof, I was the only one of my friends who really enjoyed it (even Tarantino-loving friends). When they asked me why did I like it so much, well obviously for the look of the film (that was just amazing), but especially the dialogue! When I found out the screenplay was published, I NEEDED IT. The dialogue and story are absolutely brilliant, and although I loved the movie, I think I may have loved reading it straight-up myself. Tarantino is a brilliant filmmaker, but also a brilliant writer! This is still one of my favorites books I have ever read.

[Aimee Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the characters & dialogue in the film so I really enjoyed reading the content that didn't make the film.
Not enough screenplay writers/directors out there writing good female characters for their films. Quentin Tarantino knows how to write interesting women who aren't just a love interest, sister or mother.
Worth the read for Tarantino fans, and fans of 70's style horror flicks.

[Steven · Rating 1 out of 5]

This must have been a joke by Tarantino - let's see how crap and pointless a story we can write and see if anyone is dumb enough to praise it because of my reputation ... except Tarantino has produced several such jokes during his career :)

[Tina Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked the movie, read this. The missing scene is here as well as some scenes you didn't even know were missing. :)

[James Larranaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun dialogue and typical Tarantino!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading the script and seeing what made it to the movie (quite a lot) and what didn't. One of my favorite movies by Tarantino. Made for a fun Spring Into Horror Readathon!