Spare Parts Review: A Stylish Grindhouse Film

Release date: June 1, 2021
Running time: 92 minutes
Starring: Julian Richings (Chaos Walking), Michelle Argyris (“General Hospital”), Emily Alatalo (Mother!), Kiriana Stanton (“The Expense”) and Chelsea Muirhead (“Slo Pitch”)
Directed By: Andrew Thomas Hunt
Written By: David Murdoch and Svet Rouskov

Spare Parts is set in a godforsaken bar in the middle of nowhere where an all-girl band – Ms. 45 – rips the stage apart with their punk spirit. But their performance impresses an enthusiastic fan who lures the girls into a trap, sedates them, and starts...customizing them. Slowly they begin to gain consciousness and, in total shock, realize their arms have all been replaced with axes and chainsaws to fight gladiator-style in a junkyard arena owned by a sadistic “emperor," forcing them into the battle of their lives with one prize in mind – their freedom.

Spare Parts is less about the story and more about the experience.  The setup makes little sense but starts with a high energy performance by the rockin girl band.  This introduces some key aspects of spare parts, namely the all girl band, the pumping rock soundtrack, and the high energy style of the film.  The members of Ms. 45 are a lot of fun to see on camera; they have a kick ass attitude and a punk spirit that permeates the film.  It is fun to see a group of strong female leads on camera, especially when they start to deal with the adversity of their situation.  And Spare Parts has an amazing soundtrack.  The rock and punk are flowing almost as freely as the blood during the arena battles, making them extra exciting.  And during these scenes you also get a junkyard style and plenty of colored lights to give this film a sort of near future apocalypse vibe.  The film presumably takes place in the current times but the style makes it seem like a mad max type movie.

However, despite all the good that Spare Parts has going for it, the film just doesn't make much sense.  I think this is by design as the movie has a grindhouse feel to the overall setting, but it does make for a series of events that just seem like an avenue for blood and rock and roll.  And that's not a bad thing, but those hoping for a more serious, coherent story might want to look elsewhere.  And the setting, as can often be the case with post apocalyptic settings, makes the film lack variety.  After the initial events, the film takes place in the junkyard around scrap metal and junked out cars.  But despite this overall setup being a strange one, in the end Spare Parts provides a vehicle for an imaginative micro world, gory kills, and plenty of fighting and strange props.  

Spare Parts tells a strange, grindhouse story fueled by pumping music, plenty of gore, and a badass group of female rockers.  

Watch it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Spare Parts is available on VOD, Digital, DVD and Blu-ray on June 1, 2021.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.