Rob Zombie is hit or miss with some, but I love all of his horror efforts. He shoots on film (always a plus) and his movies stand out and far away from the mainstream. He has a good ear for dialogue, and his direction is impeccable. There's one movie in his filmography that will always be considered his magnum opus; The Devil's Rejects.
This genre bending flick was unleashed into cinemas in 2005, as a loose sequel to his 2003 debut House of 1000 Corpses. This is Zombie's best reviewed movie, and it's clear why. The biggest reason, I think, is because you can't put a label on it. It's a drama, horror movie, western, crime thriller, and even a dark comedy, all rolled into one wild ride.
The story revolves around sherif Wydell who goes on a personal revenge mission to catch the remaining members of the Firefly family that fled their home after a police raid.
From the opening scene, in which sheriff Wydell raids the Firefly's home, you know instantly that you're in for something like you've never seen before. It's a brutal shootout and it's filmed in an almost documentary style. But the reason it's so good is because it's the last thing you'd expect from a horror movie. That's how this entire movie operates. It takes left turn after left turn, leaving you wondering where it will end up.
Another thing that worked superbly in this flick was the music. While House of 1000 Corpses used a more heavy metal "scary movie" score, this movie used classic country/hard rock songs. This creates a really uneasy feeling. It reminded me of how Tarantino used "Stuck in the Middle with You" for the infamous ear cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs. Pairing an otherwise upbeat song with sinister acts of violence is a great stylistic choice.
The gore/violence also is very well done. The film was shot on 16mm so its grainy as hell and really adds to the brutality of the violence. The gore is very realistic and in your face, but it never feels too exploitative, nor does the nudity. The CGI is surprisingly convincing, and enough practical stuff is thrown in to balance everything out.
The acting is superb as well. Zombie brings in genre favorites as well as some new faces. His twisted lines get delivered brilliantly. The acting is yet another thing that sets this movie above most horror films that come out these days.
The Devil's Rejects is my favorite horror film. It's good because it's not like any other scary movie out there. It's a good FILM, not limited to horror. It's a genre defining, one of a kind movie, that will be remembered for some time to come.
This genre bending flick was unleashed into cinemas in 2005, as a loose sequel to his 2003 debut House of 1000 Corpses. This is Zombie's best reviewed movie, and it's clear why. The biggest reason, I think, is because you can't put a label on it. It's a drama, horror movie, western, crime thriller, and even a dark comedy, all rolled into one wild ride.
The story revolves around sherif Wydell who goes on a personal revenge mission to catch the remaining members of the Firefly family that fled their home after a police raid.
From the opening scene, in which sheriff Wydell raids the Firefly's home, you know instantly that you're in for something like you've never seen before. It's a brutal shootout and it's filmed in an almost documentary style. But the reason it's so good is because it's the last thing you'd expect from a horror movie. That's how this entire movie operates. It takes left turn after left turn, leaving you wondering where it will end up.
Another thing that worked superbly in this flick was the music. While House of 1000 Corpses used a more heavy metal "scary movie" score, this movie used classic country/hard rock songs. This creates a really uneasy feeling. It reminded me of how Tarantino used "Stuck in the Middle with You" for the infamous ear cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs. Pairing an otherwise upbeat song with sinister acts of violence is a great stylistic choice.
The gore/violence also is very well done. The film was shot on 16mm so its grainy as hell and really adds to the brutality of the violence. The gore is very realistic and in your face, but it never feels too exploitative, nor does the nudity. The CGI is surprisingly convincing, and enough practical stuff is thrown in to balance everything out.
The acting is superb as well. Zombie brings in genre favorites as well as some new faces. His twisted lines get delivered brilliantly. The acting is yet another thing that sets this movie above most horror films that come out these days.
The Devil's Rejects is my favorite horror film. It's good because it's not like any other scary movie out there. It's a good FILM, not limited to horror. It's a genre defining, one of a kind movie, that will be remembered for some time to come.
