The Lords of Salem

Have you ever wondered what Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby would be like on acid? That's pretty much what you get with Rob Zombie's new fright fest The Lords of Salem. The story revolves around a radio DJ named Heidi Hawthorne. She lives a relatively normal life, and she seems happy, but one day on her radio show she plays a mysterious record that she received in the mail from a band simply called The Lords. After the record is played, Heidi starts feeling strange and having bizarre hallucinations. Meanwhile, a mysterious new neighbor has moved into Heidi's apartment building with seemingly deadly intent. All of these strange occurrences relate back to a secret coven of witches that were hunted down and burned at the stake during the Salem witch trials.

The main thing that sets this film apart from Zombie's other films is the slow, tension building pace. Sure, there are a few isolated scares scattered throughout the film, but the real eye burning imagery is saved for the last 10-15 minutes. This is the main reason I loved this film. It's slow burning and we actually get to know Heidi, making her descent into madness that much more gut wrenching. You have to be patient and willing to make the journey with her. It's definitely Zombie's most mature film in terms of storytelling and craft.

The look of this film can be summed up with one word: gorgeous. It's a dark and dreary experience peppered with bright, candy colored Satanic images. Heidi's twisted visions are impossible to look away from, even as they get more grotesque and obscene. There were certain sequences at the end that were burned into my mind and had me thinking about them long after the credits rolled. Everything works, from the set design to the strange lighting and photography of the hallucinations.  Zombie really went for something that didn't resemble any of his past work, and he succeeded. This is his most visually striking film since House of 1000 Corpses.

The acting in this film is also top notch. Sheri Moon Zombie does an amazing job as the heroine of the story. Ken Froree and Jeff Daniel Phillips are also great as Heidi's co-hosts at the radio station. But the stand out performances are that of the three old witches threatening Heidi's life played by Dee Wallace, Patricia Quinn, and Judy Geeson. These are only a few of the great performances. It's a great cast filled with horror icons and new faces alike.

The Lords of Salem is a fantastic horror film. It's Zombie's take on the satanic sub-genre. He pulls influences from Polanski, and even Aregento while throwing in his own special touch. It's a trippy, one of a kind film that will please hardcore Zombie fans, and possibly even impress the naysayers. Satan, come to us, we are ready!