House of 1000 Corpses ReviewDVD Movie Review - Rob Zombie Movie |
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There was a bleak period in the 90’s when the horror genre seemed to shrink up and die on the vine, and it wasn’t until the surprising success of Scream that things started to turn around. Since then, we’ve be treated to an abundance of remakes, as well as a whole host of brand spankin’ new tales of terror. With House of 1000 Corpses we get a throwback of sorts. A 70’s horror flick masquerading as a modern movie. And heading up the film is none other than Rob Zombie, the former frontman for the metal act White Zombie. It’s his first time behind the lens, but anyone who’s listened to his music or gazed at his art will know that he’s long been influenced by horror movies. Of course, being a fan doesn’t immediately qualify you to direct a motion picture. You might end up as the Tarantino of terror, but you’re more likely to turn out a steaming pile of crap that would make Roger Corman blush. But Zombie at least helps his freshman cause with solid dialogue (which he wrote) and a plot which reads like something right out of the seventies. Jerry (Chris Hardwick) and Bill (Rainn Wilson) are traveling the backroads of America with their main squeezes Denise (Erin Daniels) and Mary (Jennifer Jostyn). After stopping off at the clown-faced Captain Spaulding’s (Sid Haig) gas station and museum of the macabre, the group (well, at least the boys) become obsessed with the local myth of Dr. Satan. While searching for the tree which he was supposedly hung from and generally demonstrating the kind of curiosity which always gets teens killed in movies, they quickly run afoul of the maniacal backwoods Firefly clan. From that point on, it’s not really a question of will they die, but rather a question of how they’ll die.
While all these characters provide a ton of atmosphere, they also make the film feel cluttered. Otis and Baby are central to the development of the plot, but the rest of the Firefly clan are mainly grisly window dressing. One or two could have been removed and the story would have been more fluid. Unfortunately, this feeling of clutter is a problem which persists through much of the film. Despite the multitude of Firefly family members, other characters have to be brought in to help carry the action. Take, for instance, the subplot involving Don Willis (Harrison Young), the father of one of the missing girls. While it does lead to a showdown at the Firefly estate and a pretty cool slow-motion shot of a gun-wielding Otis, the entire scene feels as though Zombie simply ran out of ideas and needed to throw in a gratuitous action scene to eat up time. One saving grace is that it gets Lt. George Wydell (Tom Towles) and Deputy Steve Naish (Walter Goggins) involved. Both actors look to really be enjoying themselves as hardass law officers who’re pretty tough until they run into the Firefly family. The movie, however, does clock in at a lean 88 minutes, so at least it doesn’t go on so long that it wears out its welcome. And while there aren’t a lot of moments that will make you jump out of your seat, there are certainly enough scenes that will make even experienced horror buffs uncomfortable. Zombie seems far more interested in creating an atmosphere of terror than simply resorting to having monsters jump out from around corners. And he should certainly be commended for that, as it shows a willingness to do things differently than most of the lame movies which pass themselves off as “horror films.” And while we’re patting people on the back, major kudos should go out to Sid Haig and Bill Moseley. Haig’s portrayal of Captain Spaulding is hilarious, while at the same time unnerving. Even though he simply serves as the character who points the protagonists in the wrong direction, his scenes are the most memorable in the film. Who would have thought that a clown who makes really delicious fried chicken could be so entertaining? And let’s not forget Bill Moseley. He takes the role of Otis Driftwood and really makes it shine. In the hands of a lesser actor, Otis might have simply been a stock villain. But Moseley gives depth to the character, portraying Otis as someone who experiences a whole range of emotions throughout the movie. When he’s on the screen, all eyes are drawn to him, and that’s a real accomplishment for any actor. All in all, House of 1000 Corpses is an impressive debut for Rob Zombie. It’s a creepy little film that will provide horror fans with a very pleasant surprise. While it tends to be a bit uneven at times, it moves along at a brisk pace and includes some nice acting by a core group of screen veterans. It’s far better, and far more original, than most horror movies being turned out today with ten times the budget. And if it had actually been made in the seventies, it would probably be considered a classic. Who knows? In thirty years, maybe it will be. Rating: **** (4 out of 5 stars) If you like this film, you might also enjoy:
On The Web: You might also enjoy our reviews of Rest Stop, Freak Out and Hood of the Living Dead. We also just added a review of The Dead Next Door. |
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