Danny Trejo takes the lead in this enthusiastically gory and violent action-revenge movie from director Robert Rodriguez. The film began its life as a spoof trailer in Rodriguez’s Grindhouse collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, and has here been worked up into a full-blown homage to B-movie era exploitation movies. The plot centres on a Mexican man called Cortez (Trejo) – who’s nicknamed Machete for his predilection for long, sharp blades – and his quest to avenge the murder of his wife and child, which leads him into a contract to kill a racist American senator (Robert De Niro).
The stellar cast also includes Jessica Alba as an immigration official; Michelle Rodriguez as a Mexican revolutionary and fast-food caterer; Steven Seagal as a narcotics kingpin; Don Johnson as a racist businessman; Jeff Fahey as a corrupt political fixer; and Lindsay Lohan as a spoilt rich kid with a taste for life’s excesses, and who is as comfortable in a nun’s outfit as she is (entirely) out of it.
cast
Danny Trejo as Machete
Michelle Rodriguez as Luz
Jessica Alba as Sartana Rivera
Robert De Niro as Senator John McLaughlin
Steven Seagal as Rogelio Torrez
Cheech Marin as Padre Cortez
Lindsay Lohan as April Booth
Don Johnson as Von Jackson
Jeff Fahey as Michael Booth
Daryl Sabara as Julio
Tom Savini as Osiris Amanpour
Shea Whigham as Sniper
Tito Larriva as Culebra Cruzado
Gilbert Trejo as Jorge
Electra Avellan as Nurse Mona
Elise Avellan as Nurse Lisa
Felix Sabates as Doc Felix
Tina Rodriguez as Tristana
Billy Blair as Von’s Henchman
Stacy Keach as Doc Franklin
James Parks as Edgar McGraw
Ara Celi as Reporter
Marci Madison as Nurse Fine
Mayra Leal as Chica (Naked Girl)
Alejandro Antonio as Chief
Juan Gabriel Pareja as Rico
Alicia Rachel Marek as June
Roland Ruiz as Luis
Nina Leon as Machete’s Wife
Jason Douglas as Patrolman #1
Vic Trevino as Federale Officer
crew
Director: Robert Rodriguez, Ethan Maniquis
USA | 105 minutes | 2010