Quentin Tarantino cites Death Proof as his worst film to date

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Oscar season doesn’t usually dovetail with the world of horror… unless Quentin Tarantino is in the mix. In a THR roundtable interview focusing on the award-season’s “contenders,” Tarantino cited his half of the GRINDHOUSE double feature, DEATH PROOF, as his one directorial screw-up to date:

“I’m really well versed on a lot of directors’ careers, you know, and when you look at those last five films when they were past it, when they were too old, and they’re really out of touch with the times… To me, it’s all about my filmography, and I want to go out with a terrific filmography. Death Proof has got to be the worst movie I ever make. And for a left-handed movie, that wasn’t so bad, all right? — so if that’s the worst I ever get, I’m good. But I do think one of those out-of-touch, old, limp, flaccid-dick movies costs you three good movies as far as your rating is concerned.”

Though DEATH PROOF has its major supporters (myself included), Tarantino’s opinion seems to jibe well with that of most moviegoers and horror fans. As an event movie GRINDHOUSE was fun, but people were really expecting DEATH PROOF to be more KILL BILL or FROM DUSK TILL DAWN than French New Wave and Brian De Palma. What do you think? Is the car chase/slasher hybrid really Tarantino’s worst movie? Check out the video below for his full soundbite and feel free to chime in with your opinion of DEATH PROOF.