The Devil's Rejects

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.

Decampitated

Troma Entertainment. This company, one of the longest running independent film companies, is known for releasing cheesy B-Movies and otherwise un-marketable flicks that no big studio would even think of putting out. This beloved company has gained a huge cult following over the years. and is seemingly unstoppable. Toxie is now just as recognizable as Jason Voorhees. This company releases more good than bad, and truly cares about the fans. Today, I'm going to talk about one of my favorite films in the Troma canon: Decampitated.

Released in 1998 by Troma, this cabin in the woods slasher comedy was directed by D. Matt Cunningham and starred Ryan Lowery, and Mike Hart, among others. The flick follows seven friends who's nice camping trip turns into a bloody, and hilarious fight for survival.

Let me start off by saying this film looks fantastic. Word around the campfire (pun intended) is that the same camera used to film the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was used for this movie. It's shot on 16mm and it gives the film real texture. It's grainy as hell and really adds to the more horror-y parts of the movie. I was really into the look of the movie.

The effects are also top notch considering the modest budget. The kill scenes are bloody and will satisfy any gore hound. The violence mostly played for laughs but that doesn't mean they aren't brutal. Throat slashing, decapitation, and fishing hooks in the ear make up this fairly gory flick.

The jokes hit more than they miss and they make the movie rise above most independent horror comedies. The characters are zany and the now trademark wacky Troma sound effects are as present as ever.The acting is solid and appropriately silly. Everyone looks like they had a good time while filming which is nice.If you haven't seen this flick, I highly suggest you check it out. It's funny, gory, and one of Troma's best!

Hostel Part 2

Eli Roth burst into the horror scene with his insanely enjoyable Cabin Fever in 2002. This indie gem centers around a group of college friends fighting off a flesh eating disease. It was classic horror; boobs, blood, and karate kids yelling for pancakes. It was a fun horror flick that got Roth major recognition from the likes of Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino, among others. He then had backing from Tarantino in making his second feature Hostel, which came out in 2005. This movie was about three friends backpacking in Europe. They soon come to find out that they are at the wrong end of a human trafficking murder ring. Hostel was a really well done sophomore film. The slow build up sets up the crazy gory final half perfectly. The film takes on a creepy look thanks to the brilliant cinematography and direction. Roth's second film proved that he had some real talent and wasn't just a one hit wonder. Then, two years later, Eli Roth came out with the sequel Hostel Part II. This movie was met with somewhat average reviews from critics and fans alike. But, in my opinion, this film is among one of the best horror films of the 2000s.

The first Hostel flick was great. It had good characters, solid acting, and insane gore. Having said that, I always thought Part 2 was way above the first installment on terms of direction and style. There are many elements that combined to make this a near perfect horror film and a damn good sequel.

First of all, the acting is superb. Lauren German does a great job as the main character Beth. She's down to earth, even with a strangely huge sum of money at her disposal. Bijou Phillips and Heather Matarazzo do their great in their respective parts as her two friends along for the trip. Roger Bart and Richard Burgi have great chemistry as long time friends who are about to dive into the dangerous world of the Elite Hunting club. The acting in this movie is far better than most horror films and really adds to the authenticity.

Now, about the direction. Eli Roth had always been one of my favorite directors. He passed on the quick cut strobe effect most movies, namely the Saw films, were using at the time. For Hostel Part 2, his shots are well thought out and he knew how to set up eerie visuals and good suspense. The scene when Stuart and Todd are getting ready for the torture is by far my favorite scene in the film. No dialogue, just a beautiful song along with the two buddies psyching themselves out for what's to come. Truly masterful. He knows how to show us the gore, too. It's not over stylized and it works to awesome effect. Roth's direction is great and it sets this film apart from the rest.

The gore is also quite amazing. KNB worked on this film and they did an outstanding job. To this day, the upside down torture scene is one of the most brutal, and surreal kills in recent memory. This film is less gory than the original, but when it hits, it hits hard. It's very unflinching and realistic. The ending with Beth chopping off Axelle's head puts a huge smile on my face. I'm glad this wasn't a gore fest all the way through, and I'm also glad that when the gore did happen, it was beautifully done.

Hostel Part 2 doesn't feel like a traditional horror film. There's no needless jump scares, no annoying characters, nothing a typical scary movie might have. And that's what puts it high above the rest. It's a well thought out film, that just happens to be centered around an underground torture club. It's very unnerving, and scary in ways you wouldn't expect. For example: The most disturbing scene in the movie is when all of the yuppies are bidding on the unsuspecting girls. No blood, just people gambling with other people's lives. It gets to you in ways other horror films don't. Hostel Part 2 is quite underrated and begs for another look. Happy hunting!