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The Devil's Rejects
Jul. 22nd, 2005 10:15 pmGood film. Not a great film, but very enjoyable, VERY tense, and surprisingly thoughtful...I mean, for a Rob Zombie film, at least. Let's see what Cap'n Spegritz has to say about it:
I loved House of 1000 Corpses. Yeah, people were raising a big ol' stink about how it was supposed to revolution horror film and was such a Great New Thing, but I knew what was all just horseshit and PR spam the second I heard about it. How did I gain such devilishly sharp insights? Well, Jesus Harold Christ on a rubber fucking crucifix, the film was written and directed by Rob Zombie, only THE biggest 70's-era horror fanboy in existence! What else could it possibly be but a heartfelt tribute or pastiche of Herr Zombie's favorite moments from the movies he watched growing up? And that's exactly what it is. Nothing more, nothing less. Not so much a film as an excellent, psych-o-tronic fanboy freakout. It was shallow, exploitative, didn't have any real recognizable story, and was completely awesome because it didn't care--just like almost every goddamned slasher and gorefest film put out from 1968 through 1983.
The Devil's Rejects is definitely an actual FILM, however, with a recognizable plot, better-drawn characters, and even though it's sort-of a sequel to House it seems more like a remix: much of the same material, restructured and redefined. Most of the main characters are back--mean ol' crazy Otis, squeak-queen Baby, and my motherfuckin' boy Captain Spaulding, as well as a few minor faces from the first film like Mother Firefly (no longer played by Karen Black, alas, but still cool)--and the plot involves them going on the run after a raid on their Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-meets-Hills-Have-Eyes-ripoff home. The characters are played a lot better now, especially by Bill Mosely (Otis), Sheri Moon Zombie (Baby), and Sid Haig (Captain Spaulding)--Sid Haig more than anyone else, though. That man just eats up the part of Captain Spaulding. William Forsythe is also exceptionally intense as Sheriff Wydell, the brother of one of the sheriffs butchered in the first film; the man literally sweats hatred and vengeance, and the film is not so much about his pursuit of the "Devil's Rejects" as it is his gradual, hatred-driven descent to their levels. In fact, half of the worst visual atrocities in the film are perpetrated by him. It was also amusing to see Ken Foree show up as Captain Spaulding's brother Charlie Altamont (nice little '60s Famous Murder allusion there) and Matthew McGrory (from The Hills Have Eyes) as Charlie's mentally-deficient helper. There were also a bunch of porn-stars showing up as Charlie's ho's and whatnot, but they're disposable.
Anyway, here's the big deal about the film: it is honestly intense. Zombie's really gotten a good hand at directing, using lots of handheld, jerky camera shots and gritty motion shots to emphasize tension, and the editing is top-notch. There were a few moments in the film where I was actually sweating--it's that savage...and, unlike it's predecessor, it's a bright film, shot in glaring Texas daylight or flashing carny lights for the most part. You can practically smell the sweat, the drying blood, and the halitosis.
Don't go to this film expecting to see the triumph of good over evil. This film is about evil only, and how even good can turn bad when exposed to blatant, who-gives-a-shit meanness. It has not one redeeming quality in that regard. It's intensely violent, it's raw, full of absolutely vulgar (but funny as shit) humor, and just generally...filthy.
Literally. It looks like every frame of the film was used to mop sweat from the actors' crotches. It's grimy, gritty, and drenched in dried blood covered in flies.
But that's why it's so great! It doesn't aim to be a great societal statement or anything--it just aims to be a fast-paced, tense-as-fuck film about murderers, psychos, and bloodthirsty cops.
Like I said...it's not a grand film, but it's very enjoyable, if you happen to enjoy films about killing and nothing but killing. And, goddamn, you people know I do! Remember, I grew up on those '70s slasher flicks, too!
One of these days, I just need to make a hacksploitation film of own. I think I'll call it Fayette County Whores gettin' Split Open by Inbred Bat-Demons.
I loved House of 1000 Corpses. Yeah, people were raising a big ol' stink about how it was supposed to revolution horror film and was such a Great New Thing, but I knew what was all just horseshit and PR spam the second I heard about it. How did I gain such devilishly sharp insights? Well, Jesus Harold Christ on a rubber fucking crucifix, the film was written and directed by Rob Zombie, only THE biggest 70's-era horror fanboy in existence! What else could it possibly be but a heartfelt tribute or pastiche of Herr Zombie's favorite moments from the movies he watched growing up? And that's exactly what it is. Nothing more, nothing less. Not so much a film as an excellent, psych-o-tronic fanboy freakout. It was shallow, exploitative, didn't have any real recognizable story, and was completely awesome because it didn't care--just like almost every goddamned slasher and gorefest film put out from 1968 through 1983.
The Devil's Rejects is definitely an actual FILM, however, with a recognizable plot, better-drawn characters, and even though it's sort-of a sequel to House it seems more like a remix: much of the same material, restructured and redefined. Most of the main characters are back--mean ol' crazy Otis, squeak-queen Baby, and my motherfuckin' boy Captain Spaulding, as well as a few minor faces from the first film like Mother Firefly (no longer played by Karen Black, alas, but still cool)--and the plot involves them going on the run after a raid on their Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-meets-Hills-Have-Eyes-ripoff home. The characters are played a lot better now, especially by Bill Mosely (Otis), Sheri Moon Zombie (Baby), and Sid Haig (Captain Spaulding)--Sid Haig more than anyone else, though. That man just eats up the part of Captain Spaulding. William Forsythe is also exceptionally intense as Sheriff Wydell, the brother of one of the sheriffs butchered in the first film; the man literally sweats hatred and vengeance, and the film is not so much about his pursuit of the "Devil's Rejects" as it is his gradual, hatred-driven descent to their levels. In fact, half of the worst visual atrocities in the film are perpetrated by him. It was also amusing to see Ken Foree show up as Captain Spaulding's brother Charlie Altamont (nice little '60s Famous Murder allusion there) and Matthew McGrory (from The Hills Have Eyes) as Charlie's mentally-deficient helper. There were also a bunch of porn-stars showing up as Charlie's ho's and whatnot, but they're disposable.
Anyway, here's the big deal about the film: it is honestly intense. Zombie's really gotten a good hand at directing, using lots of handheld, jerky camera shots and gritty motion shots to emphasize tension, and the editing is top-notch. There were a few moments in the film where I was actually sweating--it's that savage...and, unlike it's predecessor, it's a bright film, shot in glaring Texas daylight or flashing carny lights for the most part. You can practically smell the sweat, the drying blood, and the halitosis.
Don't go to this film expecting to see the triumph of good over evil. This film is about evil only, and how even good can turn bad when exposed to blatant, who-gives-a-shit meanness. It has not one redeeming quality in that regard. It's intensely violent, it's raw, full of absolutely vulgar (but funny as shit) humor, and just generally...filthy.
Literally. It looks like every frame of the film was used to mop sweat from the actors' crotches. It's grimy, gritty, and drenched in dried blood covered in flies.
But that's why it's so great! It doesn't aim to be a great societal statement or anything--it just aims to be a fast-paced, tense-as-fuck film about murderers, psychos, and bloodthirsty cops.
Like I said...it's not a grand film, but it's very enjoyable, if you happen to enjoy films about killing and nothing but killing. And, goddamn, you people know I do! Remember, I grew up on those '70s slasher flicks, too!
One of these days, I just need to make a hacksploitation film of own. I think I'll call it Fayette County Whores gettin' Split Open by Inbred Bat-Demons.
