Being a huge fan of the flicks Zombie has been coming out with, I decided it would be a nice little treat to write a review with all of the films reviewed in one. That way you can get a feel for all of Rob Zombie’s movies in a single article.
In my eyes, Rob Zombie has influenced and changed the horror films of this generation. Rob’s first film House of 1000 Corpses borrowed heavily from the Exploitation genre prevalent in films from the late 70’s and early 80’s. While it was quite shocking, it wasn’t overly original and brought it’s audience to immediate Texas Chainsaw Massacre comparisons. It did however reinvigorate the industry and open the door for Exploitation cinema once again.
His follow up to House of 1000 Corpses; The Devil’s Rejects was a step forward. The film borrowed a lot less from titles before it, and became it’s own unique entity, and in turn made Rob into a credible Hollywood prospect in the Horror genre.
So let’s get right to it then, beginning with my House of 1000 Corpses Review!House of 1000 Corpses
Directed By: Rob Zombie
Written By: Rob Zombie
Starring: Rainn Wilson, Sheri Moon-Zombie, Matthew McGrory, Sid Haig, Karen Black, Bill Moseley
STORY
Four friends are travelling across the USA writing a book about the off-beat roadside attractions one finds on a road trip. After stopping at Captain Spaulding’s Museum of Monsters & Madmen, they are told the story of the infamous Dr. Satan, who was a local killer. Interested in this man, the friends set out to find the tree where Dr. Satan was hung.
While on their way to the tree, a female hitchhiker joins them, coincidentally their tire is blown not long after getting her. She says her brother has a tow truck and can replace the tire for them and then go see where Dr. Satan was hung. They decide going to her house is the best plan. While one of the friends walks with her in the rain to the house, the other three wait for Baby’s brother. Once they arrive and are all reunited however, they end up being held prisoners as playthings for a sadistic family in the middle of nowhere.
CHARACTERS
The family of killers known as the Firefly Family are by far some of the most interesting movie characters I have seen to this day. The first time I watched this I thought they were all very bizarre, sadistic and strange characters that gave me chills running down my spine.
They are all sick, twisted, and psychotic in their own ways, which really makes the family an instant classic in the horror genre. Similar to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre family in ways, Rob Zombie really created a memorable group of characters.
Special Effects / Gore:
The gore was superb. Rob tried to really make everything seem as realistic as possible in the gore department, there was a lot of gore when necessary, but never was it really overdone.
Final Score:
After watching this movie for my very first time in 2003 or 2004, I knew from that day I would be in love with every Rob Zombie movie to be released. Everything was near perfect, the only real issue I had with it was the last twenty minutes or so, where the movie seemed to completely shift into a random, unrealistic direction that ruins some of the immersion the film previously created.
Besides that, however, Rob Zombie really made his mark with this movie, and many of us are happy to see he is still at it!
The Devils Rejects
Directed By: Rob Zombie
Written By: Rob Zombie
Starring: Sid Haig, Sheri Moon-Zombie, Bill Moseley
STORY
Set a few months after House of 1000 Corpses, the police in Ruggsville, Texas attack the house of the sadistic Firefly Family, also known as, “The Devil’s Rejects.”
After they arrest Mother Firefly, Otis Driftwood and Baby Firefly are on the run from authorities, after contacting their father figure Captain Spaulding, they plan to meet up at an isolated motel in the middle of the desert.
Throughout all of this, Sheriff Wydell has his heart set on capturing and killing the Firefly Family, seeking revenge for his brother Deputy George Wydell’s death, whom they murdered in House of 1000 Corpses.
Characters:
Again we are alongside the Firefly Family, some of the most interesting serial killers in movie history. This time however, we do not get to see what they are like at home, and what they normally do, oh no!
We get a completely different view of the family in Devil’s Rejects. In House of 1000 Corpses the Firefly family were predators killing everyone in their path and torturing their victims for their own personal enjoyment, without mercy. In this movie they are the prey, on the run from the authorities, hunted down like a pack of rabid dogs. They still manage to rack up a death toll in this flick, but their sadistic exploits aren’t the main focus.
With a new character added, Sheriff Wydell, we see just how damaging the loss of a family member can truly be, and what depths of depravity it can send a person into. Depths that make the viewer question just how different and moral one really is when faced with the murder of a loved one. In this case it’s the murder of Sheriff Wydell’s brother, a murder that has Sheriff Wydell obsessed with retribution and revenge.
Special Effects / Gore:
In comparison to House of 1000 Corpses, the effects in this flick are beautiful.
Although there is not a huge difference in the effects between the two films, there are certain scenes throughout it that have loads of blood, some scenes including a pile of organs even! This is by far the goriest of the series.
Final Score:
After the films conclusion, I was truly sad. Throughout House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, I had fallen in love with the Firefly Family. To know this would be the last movie with them was truly disappointing. Besides that, it was another horror masterpiece. Rob Zombie did not let anybody down with this film, and it will never be forgotten. It was an incredible sequel, moving leaps and bounds ahead of his previous work. The Devil’s Rejects showcased Rob Zombie’s growth as a Director, Writer & Film Maker.
I’d say these films are two everybody should see before they die. That is the truth!
On a sad note Matthew McGrory (Tiny) passed away shortly after filming.
Halloween
STORY
At the age of ten Michael Myers is committed to a mental institution for murdering members of his family, as well as his sister’s boyfriend.
After seventeen years in there, he escapes as a grown man, more dangerous than ever.
Soon after escaping, Michael returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, in search of his baby sister, Laurie. On his search for Laurie, he leaves a bloodbath.
Characters:
In the beginning of the movie Michael’s dysfunctional childhood is revealed, a childhood that is so emotionally and mentally devastating that a psychopath is slowly but surely being created. His alcoholic step-father constantly trash talks him, is violent towards his mother and his siblings. Outside of the house, his problems follow him. He’s bullied in school, teased about his mom being a stripper, and is harassed because of his long hair.
After the acts Michael Myers has committed one Halloween night, he is sent off to a mental institution where he spends seventeen years of his life. The majority of his is spent with his psychologist Dr. Loomis, and when he is not with him, he spends his time alone making a ton of creepy looking masks to hide his ugliness behind. When Michael puts the masks on, it was his escape. He became someone else, something else.
After devoting 15 years of his life to studying and interacting with Myers, Loomis finally comes to the conclusion that there is no redeemable qualities in Michael, there wasn’t a shred of humanity within his cold husk. He was evil incarnate. Once he escapes, Dr. Loomis devotes the rest of his life to the capture of Michael Myers.
He has dedicated a lifetime to trying to help him, but nothing seems to work. When he finds out that Michael Myers has escaped, he begins to try his very hardest to find him with the police, in hopes that he can finally put an end to the terror Michael is bringing everybody.
He is a very likable character because of this, and gives a good example of no matter how much you try to help a killer as ruthless as Michael Meyers, chances are you will never succeed.
Julie, Michael’s sister is a teenage high school student who is unaware of her past, or who her real family is, after being adopted she was never told anything about her relation to the Myers. She is a key character in the movie, as without her, it would be a pointless murder spree. She is the only person who has a spot in the heart of Michael Meyers, and the one person who Michael will stop at absolutely nothing to try getting back in to his life.
Special Effects / Gore:
With Halloween, Zombie introduced a new brutality to the gore in his films, in comparison to his previous efforts, this movie had excellent amounts of gore, with loads of blood. However, at the same time the effects were not much better than the previous movies, only a lot more of it. The major difference in the remake compared to the original Halloween movie is the beginning focus on the back story of Michael Meyers, showing how he was brought up, the sort of things he went through before becoming the monster he is known as today, and just how vicious these things can make a person become. John Carpenter’s film missed out on that entirely, and that is why Rob Zombie’s remake is truly a masterpiece.
Final Score:
While I did not find this movie to be as good as the first two films he made, I do believe he took a masterpiece, and did a terrific remake of it.
He made it his own in ways, and because of that it was not just a simple remake I imagine a different director would have brought to the table. A lot of people dislike the Halloween remake, but I found it to be well. I would not have wanted anybody else to remake this movie, and Zombie did a great job at it.
Halloween II
STORY
After Michael’s attempt at reuniting with his sister, Laurie in Halloween, he returns and is more dangerous than he has ever been. Laurie is now in the hospital and being treated for her wounds that Michael had inflicted upon her only a few hours ago.
The thing is, Myers is not far off from her, and he will continue his murder spree until he has his little sister all to himself, once and for all.
Characters:
Well, we are back again with Michael Myers, easily one of the most frightening serial killers in horror movie history, and the original character that started the ‘Slasher’ genre
Not much can be said about him, besides he has zero remorse, zero guilt, and will kill anybody who tries stopping him. Having a retired wrestler (Tyler Mane) as an actor for him, the character could not be played better in this sequel to Rob Zombie’s remake.
Laurie, Michael’s sister has just recently found out of her true identity, and that her real name is actually Angel Myers, and that she is in fact the sister of the infamous killer, Michael Myers. Now she knows the truth and he is still fighting to get to her, killing everybody in his path, she must do whatever she can to escape him.
Dr. Loomis is not so much a likable character in this film, as he was in the first. Now using Michael as a way to make money by selling his book, the majority of the community holds a strong hate against him, and blames him for Michael Myers killing again. Because of remarks made in the beginning of the movie, when the time comes that he believes Myers is free and murdering once again, the community has a hard time believing him, they soon will find out the horrifying truth that he is not incorrect.
Special Effects / Gore:
Carrying the trend from the first Halloween remake Zombie released, the amounts of gore in this movie are extreme, which makes some murder scenes seem a bit unrealistic. While this movie did have a lot of potential to top his first remake in gore, it just didn’t do the trick due to most murder scenes being very similar.
Final Score:
While I did not find this film to be as good as the first Halloween remake Zombie made, it was still a pretty solid movie. A few small things I disliked about it that I can easily point out, are the fact that the actor of the child version of Michael is completely different than the first he released. The acting was good, though I felt a few characters were a bit off. The biggest issue anybody could have with a film such as this, is the murder scenes were not all that creative, leaving the majority of them just about the exact same. This could possibly be Rob’s worst movie, although that does not mean it’s bad in any way… It just is not as good.
The story in Halloween II is solid, there’s no doubt about that… The murder scenes contained great amounts of gore, like I said. However, there was a lot missing from this movie that the first did have, and because of that I feel this movie deserves a lower score.
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
STORY
In the mythical world of Monsterland, the movie follows the adventures of El Superbeasto and his side-kick and sister, Suzi-X. El Superbeasto is a washed up Mexican wrestler, while his sister is a “secret agent Nazi zombie hunter.” The two of them are meant to confront and put an end to the evil villain, known only as Dr. Satan.
Characters:
El Superbeasto is by far one of the funniest characters I have seen in a movie, while ‘trying’ to take the more important things going on seriously, he always finds himself distracted by the women around him, and his obsession with sex. Superbeasto will always find a way to surprise you.
Suzi-X is another hilarious character.. Hell, they all are in this movie. With a theme song that will make you laugh the whole time through, and her robot side-kick / vehicle alongside her, the conversations between the two are excellent. Not much more can be said besides these two characters are the greatest to reach a cartoon since Ren & Stimpy.
Dr. Satan, unlike he was in House of 1000 Corpses, is a completely different person. As a mad scientist trying to sort of conquer the world, and get all of the women for himself, under the mask he is nothing more than a nerdy young man with a dream.
Special Effects / Gore:
Not much can be said in this department, as the movie is 100% animation.
However, everything looks very nice, watching this will give you a feeling similar to watching the Ren & Stimpy cartoons.
Final Score:
El Superbeasto has been frowned upon by many of it’s viewers, and I just can not figure out why… They complain about how long it took for it to be released, and that it was not that great considering the time they waited… But they don’t realize Rob was also working on the Halloween movies, and this at the same time.Rob Zombie’s imagination was really put to use in this movie, as it was animated, anything was possible… El Superbeasto proved that.With hilarious spoofs of older horror movies such as Carrie, Halloween, Friday the 13th and many more, the movie was hilarious.And to make it even funnier, the soundtrack will make you laugh harder than ever.
I personally loved this movie, and will never forget it.
Starting 2011, Rob Zombie is working on his next film ‘The Lords of Salem’, set in Salem, Massachusetts, where the citizens encounter a demonic visit from a 300 year old coven of witches!
Zombie has wanted to do a movie on the Salem witch trials for some time, since he had grown up in Salem and was always very interested in them.
Keep your eyes peeled for this one!
