Machete (starring From Dusk Till Dawn's Danny Trejo as a former Mexican Federale who favours his namesake blade) wasn't a huge hit upon its release (grossing just $44m worldwide), but surprisingly positive reviews have perhaps inspired an unlikely sequel, MACHETE KILLS.
This time, bad-ass Machete is recruited by womanising U.S President (Carlos Estévez, nee Charlie Sheen) to kill a billionaire arms dealer (Mel Gibson) and a revolutionary (Demián Bichir). It's as crazy and violent as its politically incorrect predecessor, crammed with yet more famous faces drawn to Robert Rodriguez's brand of unfettered anarchy: Michelle Rodriguez (Resident Evil), Amber Heard (Drive Crazy), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Walton Goggins (Justified), Cuba Gooding Jr (Jerry Maguire), Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Jessica Alba (Sin City), Vanessa Hudgens (Spring Breakers), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids), William Sadler (Die Hard 2), and others.
Filmed in just 29 days on a budget of $12m, action-comedy Machete Kills only grossed $15m when it was released last October, so my guess is the film's preceding fake trailer for Machete Kills... in Space won't be playing in cinemas any time soon. But for something originating as a two-minute joke, Machete's had a surprisingly durable afterlife.
Article sponsored by Lionsgate.
