Post by Ash on Apr 13, 2003 17:07:20 GMT -5
I just checked out Rob Zombie's long delayed opus. I must say - for true fans of the horror genre - especially the drive in films of the 70's - this was WORTH THE WAIT.
Here's my review:
"The most shocking tale of carnage ever seen."
RATING (out of 5): TOO F'n GOOD!!!!!!
From the demented, directorial eye of veteran goth rocker Rob Zombie, comes House of a Thousand Corpses. A throwback to H.G. Lewis, Texas Chainsaw, The Funhouse, and hoardes of other great exploitation films/filmmakers. Long delays, altered release dates and post-production disagreements concerned millions of horror and Zombie fans, but, alas - it seems the tampering with the film hasn't effected the end result. In fact, the restrained violence and minimal gore almost increases the fun-factor.
Taking place on October 30th, 1977 (aren't you already LOVING this?), the film introduces us to a group of typical twenty-somethings who visit Captain Spaulding's, a freak-show road side attraction, derrived in fact - from famous serial killers. They jump aboard the death ride (YES!!! YES!!!), which is nothing more than smoke and mirrors - but has an off-kilter, disturbing feel. Something's just not right here. But this is only the beginning. Now, before I get too far into the review, let me hand it to Zombie. While it would be SO easy for his screenplay to poke fun of 70's cliches (with lines such as "hey - don't you just love the Village People"), he refuses to do so, and takes the high road. The film KNOWS what it wants to do, and just is a story that happens to take place during the 70's - which is perfect (take note you self-reffuerntial, post Scream wannabes). No cell phones, pagers, no common sense.
Back to the story. Things turn from bad to worse when the group of tourists leave Captain Spaulding's, suffer what they believe to be a blow-out (technically, I guess it was - but one from a shotgun blast), and end up stranded in the middle of bumfuck. Low and behold, in Texas Chainsaw tradition, a hitch-hiker has the solution - and can help their predicament. Of course, something's wrong with this individual, as she has the mind of a child, but the sensuality and sexual drive of a Lolita-type. Ending up at the home of one of the most bizarre families ever portrayed in this genre of film (which boasts it's fair share of cult horror icons - Karen Black of Trilogy of Terror, Bill Moseley of Texas Chainsaw 2 and so on), they become part of their Halloween ritual.
The film becomes more bizarre as it progresses, and Zombie loads on the Natural Born Killers style of intercutting different film-stocks, to show the mentality of the crazies involved. This actually proves to be more effective than it was in Killers. Corpses also features some nifty editing, fun dialogue, a GREAT performance from "B" movie veteran Sid Haig (Galaxy of Terror) as Captain Spaulding and tons of homages to horror films of the past. It is clear Zombie has a love for horror (with scenes from such films as The Wolf Man spliced in) and each frame is lovingly detailed. I don't doubt there are a thousand corpses on the house mentioned in the title - maybe more - and each of them probably has a bizarre history. Something I'd love to see explored if they make a sequel. Of course, this is NOT a film for the masses. It's for horror fans - the kind who like their horror exploitive and nasty. The kind who think teeny-boppers and rappers have no place in the genre. It does boast very effective make-up and sets, which is most respectable considering it's modest budget of $7 million. The brilliance of a film like this is that it's primary itteligence is where it lacks intelligence.
Look for: Genre Veteran Michael J. Pollard as Stucky (get it?). Great to see him back on screen!
The bottom line: SEE CORPSES!!! It's easily the best horror film of the last 15 years -- Hey, and who CAN'T love a film that offers a charbroiled freak dressed in a t-shirt reading 'Cheap-Ass Halloween Costume'?
Here's my review:
"The most shocking tale of carnage ever seen."
RATING (out of 5): TOO F'n GOOD!!!!!!
From the demented, directorial eye of veteran goth rocker Rob Zombie, comes House of a Thousand Corpses. A throwback to H.G. Lewis, Texas Chainsaw, The Funhouse, and hoardes of other great exploitation films/filmmakers. Long delays, altered release dates and post-production disagreements concerned millions of horror and Zombie fans, but, alas - it seems the tampering with the film hasn't effected the end result. In fact, the restrained violence and minimal gore almost increases the fun-factor.
Taking place on October 30th, 1977 (aren't you already LOVING this?), the film introduces us to a group of typical twenty-somethings who visit Captain Spaulding's, a freak-show road side attraction, derrived in fact - from famous serial killers. They jump aboard the death ride (YES!!! YES!!!), which is nothing more than smoke and mirrors - but has an off-kilter, disturbing feel. Something's just not right here. But this is only the beginning. Now, before I get too far into the review, let me hand it to Zombie. While it would be SO easy for his screenplay to poke fun of 70's cliches (with lines such as "hey - don't you just love the Village People"), he refuses to do so, and takes the high road. The film KNOWS what it wants to do, and just is a story that happens to take place during the 70's - which is perfect (take note you self-reffuerntial, post Scream wannabes). No cell phones, pagers, no common sense.
Back to the story. Things turn from bad to worse when the group of tourists leave Captain Spaulding's, suffer what they believe to be a blow-out (technically, I guess it was - but one from a shotgun blast), and end up stranded in the middle of bumfuck. Low and behold, in Texas Chainsaw tradition, a hitch-hiker has the solution - and can help their predicament. Of course, something's wrong with this individual, as she has the mind of a child, but the sensuality and sexual drive of a Lolita-type. Ending up at the home of one of the most bizarre families ever portrayed in this genre of film (which boasts it's fair share of cult horror icons - Karen Black of Trilogy of Terror, Bill Moseley of Texas Chainsaw 2 and so on), they become part of their Halloween ritual.
The film becomes more bizarre as it progresses, and Zombie loads on the Natural Born Killers style of intercutting different film-stocks, to show the mentality of the crazies involved. This actually proves to be more effective than it was in Killers. Corpses also features some nifty editing, fun dialogue, a GREAT performance from "B" movie veteran Sid Haig (Galaxy of Terror) as Captain Spaulding and tons of homages to horror films of the past. It is clear Zombie has a love for horror (with scenes from such films as The Wolf Man spliced in) and each frame is lovingly detailed. I don't doubt there are a thousand corpses on the house mentioned in the title - maybe more - and each of them probably has a bizarre history. Something I'd love to see explored if they make a sequel. Of course, this is NOT a film for the masses. It's for horror fans - the kind who like their horror exploitive and nasty. The kind who think teeny-boppers and rappers have no place in the genre. It does boast very effective make-up and sets, which is most respectable considering it's modest budget of $7 million. The brilliance of a film like this is that it's primary itteligence is where it lacks intelligence.
Look for: Genre Veteran Michael J. Pollard as Stucky (get it?). Great to see him back on screen!
The bottom line: SEE CORPSES!!! It's easily the best horror film of the last 15 years -- Hey, and who CAN'T love a film that offers a charbroiled freak dressed in a t-shirt reading 'Cheap-Ass Halloween Costume'?
