While this is often considered to be Tarantino's worst film (even Tarantino himself admitted it's his weakest film), I've always had a strong appreciation for it. Most negative reviews I've come across praise the climaxes to both halves, Kurt Russell's performance, and the grainy look of the film, but criticize the film for being too talky and too slow. I don't think these criticisms are entirely sound though and don't matter a whole lot in the grand scheme of what the film gets right.
My main takeaway was the contrast between the girls in the first half and those in the second half of the film. The girls in the first half seem rather standard for lack of a better word and don't seem much like threats for Mike. Due to this, he's easily able to kill them and, by the end of the first half, they just feel like some other ordinary kills for Mike. The characterizations of the girls in the second half though are vastly different. Two out of the three girls involved in the car chase are stunt actors themselves and their behavior (leaving one of their friends behind to presumably be sexually assaulted, driving at a high speed while one of them is fastened to the car's hood, and going full vigilante in the final act as they pursue Mike, all the while endangering the lives of multiple other people in the process) is far more insane than what we see from the girls in the first half. That they out-crazy Mike (or, at least, do a much better job at matching his unhinged behavior) is why they survive, while the first set of girls all perish.
I also consider Stuntman Mike to be a great horror villain as, like Dracula and the villain in The Vanishing, he presents himself as a normal person in public. He seems friendly, he's talkative, and the girls in the first half find him charming. The way he lures his first victim into his car with his charm and snappy dialogue is rather unnerving to watch unfold. This buildup makes both him revealing his true colors to Pam and especially his breakdown in the final act all the more shocking.
An element which doesn't require much defending is the technical craft (even most naysayers tend to agree it's one of the film's strengths). The aforementioned grainy look of the picture does a fine job at matching the cheaply-made look of grindhouse films and, pared with the leisurely pacing, it's hard not to think Tarantino knocks it out of the park. Also, the climactic action scenes to both halves are equal parts intense and thrilling. The car chase at the end, in particular, is one of the best car chases I've ever seen in film.
Overall, I would definitely include this in my top 3 Tarantino films and, while I get that some viewers may find it too slow, I think it does a handful of interesting things and there's quite a bit to unpack from it which isn't often brought up.
My main takeaway was the contrast between the girls in the first half and those in the second half of the film. The girls in the first half seem rather standard for lack of a better word and don't seem much like threats for Mike. Due to this, he's easily able to kill them and, by the end of the first half, they just feel like some other ordinary kills for Mike. The characterizations of the girls in the second half though are vastly different. Two out of the three girls involved in the car chase are stunt actors themselves and their behavior (leaving one of their friends behind to presumably be sexually assaulted, driving at a high speed while one of them is fastened to the car's hood, and going full vigilante in the final act as they pursue Mike, all the while endangering the lives of multiple other people in the process) is far more insane than what we see from the girls in the first half. That they out-crazy Mike (or, at least, do a much better job at matching his unhinged behavior) is why they survive, while the first set of girls all perish.
I also consider Stuntman Mike to be a great horror villain as, like Dracula and the villain in The Vanishing, he presents himself as a normal person in public. He seems friendly, he's talkative, and the girls in the first half find him charming. The way he lures his first victim into his car with his charm and snappy dialogue is rather unnerving to watch unfold. This buildup makes both him revealing his true colors to Pam and especially his breakdown in the final act all the more shocking.
An element which doesn't require much defending is the technical craft (even most naysayers tend to agree it's one of the film's strengths). The aforementioned grainy look of the picture does a fine job at matching the cheaply-made look of grindhouse films and, pared with the leisurely pacing, it's hard not to think Tarantino knocks it out of the park. Also, the climactic action scenes to both halves are equal parts intense and thrilling. The car chase at the end, in particular, is one of the best car chases I've ever seen in film.
Overall, I would definitely include this in my top 3 Tarantino films and, while I get that some viewers may find it too slow, I think it does a handful of interesting things and there's quite a bit to unpack from it which isn't often brought up.