Shocking, stomach-churning, over-stimulating entertainment: This is "Grindhouse," and it's unlike anything else in theaters. Directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino serve up a gloriously outrageous double feature filled with over three hours of thrills, gore and violent mayhem.

The madness is initially unleashed in Rodriguez's "Planet Terror," an outlandish, horrifying flick. The first scene leaks onto the screen in a smoky red tint as Cherry (Rose McGowan) seductively pole dances. Don't be fooled - these attractive images are quickly erased by scene after scene of slaughter and carnage.

Said carnage is the result of a noxious gas that accidentally escapes from a nearby military base and descends upon the small town where Cherry lives. The gas causes horrible sores and boils to form on humans' skin until they are a festering, bubbling, bloody mess. For some reason, it also causes those who are infected to crave human flesh. Cherry is seized by the flesh-eaters and loses a leg, which is later replaced by a machine gun. All hell breaks loose after that, as Cherry and friends battle relentlessly against the festering flesh-eaters.

Up next is "Death Proof," a slow-starting Tarantino flick that builds in intensity until it reaches a fierce and violently satisfying climax. "Death Proof" has two distinct halves in and of itself. Each half focuses on a different set of women. The common link is Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell), a cunning, perverted automobile stuntman who terrorizes each group of women while they are on the road. It takes a relatively long time for this story to pick up speed, but once it does there is no slowing down. The stunts and scenes in "Death Proof" - you have to see them to believe them - are full of heart-pounding terror and suspense.

In between the two films are a string of oddly humorous, fictional previews for other "schlock" films with ominous titles such as "Werewolf Women of the S.S." and "Thanksgiving." The previews are a fun treat and a welcome breather between the intensity of the two main features. Also a treat is the number of unexpected celebrity appearances sprinkled throughout the double feature including Bruce Willis, Nicolas Cage and Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson. Tarantino cameos in both movies as well.

The appeal of "Grindhouse" lies in its sincere commitment to being a mind-numbing, spine-tingling classic for the ages. Utterly saturated with a feeling of terror, images of gore, and the thumping beat of music and sound effects, "Grindhouse" is at once bewildering and stimulating. Together, Rodriguez and Tarantino have created a work that is currently unparalleled in its celebration of sensational violence and terror as entertainment.

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review

'Grindhouse'

{M3Starring: Rose McGowan, Kurt Russell, Freddy Rodriguez

Directors: Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino

Run time: 3 hours, 9 minutes

Rated: R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use

Now playing at: College Square and Crossroads 12

"Planet Terror" **** (out of *****)

"Death Proof" *** (out of *****)