I just saw it tonight. If you’re a fan of 70’s horror/exploitation movies (ala Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes, Last House on the Left, etc.) this is one to check out. It’s a very canny replication of that kind of movie along with some other 70’s exploitation influences (I was reminded of elements of Big Bad Mama and Bonnie and Clyde, for instance).
It’s directed by Rob Zombie and he shows some real talent, with interesting shots and edits, a great 70’s soundtrack, some off-kilter humor and an ability to create some real tension and avert-your-eyes horror.
The acting is well above average for a B level horror movie and features some names from a couple of the old school classic horror movies (P.J Soles from Halloween, that giant bald guy from The Hills Have Eyes.
The movie is definitely not for everybody. It’s brutal, amoral, extremely bloody and replete with gratuitous nudity, but if you like that kind of stuf, and especially if you like the kind of movies I’ve compared it to in this thread, it’s worth your eight bucks.
Oh…and the movie also features a surprisingly effective use of the song “Freebird” which doesn’t come off as cheesy or cliched.
Diogenes, have you seen Zombie’s other film, “House of a Thousand Corpses”? If so, how would you compare the two?
I’ve seen “House of a Thousand Corpses” and thought that while it was a nice change from the crop of teen “horror” movies that are inexplicably popular, it seemed to lack something. It had some good moments, but I can’t say I truly liked it overall.
I’ll probably go see “The Devil’s Rejects” tomorrow anyway, because it’s my one day off and the theatre is air-conditioned.
For God’s sake, finally a non-Japanese horror movie.
Even if Devil’s Rejects doesn’t scare me, at least it will greatly entertain me. Not bore the hell into me. I’m also glad that this movie seems to have a greater focus on Sid Haig, who was my favorite part of House of 1000.
I didn’t see House of 1000 Corpses, but I guess “Rejects” is a sequel about the same family of killers. The reviews for this one have been much stronger than for the first one, so it appears that Zombie has improved his chops a bit. I was reminded a little of Quentin Tarantino, both in how Zombie manages to mimic the feel of old exploitation movies as well as in some of the off the wall dialogue (a conversation about chicken fucking, for instance).
I am SOOOOO glad I wasn’t drinking anything when I read that!
Btw, I read it also has Steven Railsback (Manson in the 1970s TV Helter Skelter, also Ed Gein & Lifeforce). And lotsa shots of Sherry Moon Zombie’s butt. RUE MORGUE magazine gave it a good review. The Indianapolis Star did not but the review made me want to see it even more.
House of 1000 Corpses grew on me as the rapport among the family members was damn funny & there were certain scenes that were just perfectly timed (the Red Hot Pss Liquor Store & the Slim Whitman music at the shootout).
Now that I’m in my forties, movies like Rod Zombie’s hold no appeal for me. But I can still remember when they did- so for the sake of today’s teenage males, I’m glad to see there are some genuinely gruesome horror movies out there.
I mean, way too much of what passes for “horror” these days is strictly PG-13 stuff aimed at 14 year old girls. Stuff that you could see for free any night of the week on Lifetime.
